Heracles Almelo suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat at home against Excelsior SBV in an International Club Friendly at the Erve Asito Stadion. The Eredivisie side were outplayed in the first half by their Keuken Kampioen Divisie opponents, who raced to a commanding lead.

First Half Dominance by Excelsior

Excelsior came flying out of the blocks, scoring twice within the opening 15 minutes. A clinical counter-attack in the 6th minute saw the visitors slice through the Heracles defense, and a well-worked set piece doubled their lead in the 12th minute. Heracles struggled to find their rhythm, and Excelsior added a third just before the interval, capitalizing on a misplaced pass in midfield. At 3-0 down, the home side faced an uphill battle.

Second Half Response

Heracles showed more urgency after the break, pulling a goal back in the 52nd minute through a powerful header from a corner. The hope of a comeback was short-lived, however, as Excelsior restored their three-goal cushion in the 68th minute with a long-range strike that left the goalkeeper helpless. Despite late pressure from Heracles, the score remained 4-1.

Analysis

• Excelsior’s efficiency: The away side were clinical in front of goal, converting four of their six shots on target.
• Heracles’ defensive concerns: The Eredivisie side will need to tighten up their defensive organization before the season starts.
• Pre-season lessons: For both teams, this match provided important minutes for players to build match sharpness.

Excelsior will be delighted with their performance, while Heracles Almelo have clear areas to address in training ahead of their league opener.