Excelsior Maassluis secured a valuable 3-2 away win against Achilles Veen in the Netherlands Derde Divisie on 12 September 2026. The visitors twice came from behind before scoring the winner in the 81st minute, ending Achilles Veen's unbeaten home start to the season. The result moves Excelsior into the top six, while Achilles Veen slip out of the playoff places.

Match Overview

The game was a tight, tactical battle for long periods, but it burst into life in the second half. Achilles Veen took the lead twice through Rick van den Berg and Jordy de Wit, but Excelsior Maassluis responded each time, with Kevin van der Velde scoring a brace. The winning goal came from Mitchell van der Linden, who capitalised on a defensive error. The away side's clinical finishing proved the difference in a match where chances were relatively evenly shared.

Key Moments

• 23' — Achilles Veen 1-0: Rick van den Berg scored with a low drive from the edge of the box.
• 39' — Excelsior Maassluis 1-1: Kevin van der Velde equalised with a header from a corner.
• 61' — Achilles Veen 2-1: Jordy de Wit finished a quick counter-attack with a calm finish.
• 73' — Excelsior Maassluis 2-2: Van der Velde scored his second, converting a penalty.
• 81' — Excelsior Maassluis 3-2: Mitchell van der Linden pounced on a loose ball and slotted home.

Tactical Story

Achilles Veen set up in a 4-3-3, looking to use their wingers to stretch the Excelsior defence. That worked in the first half, and they created several chances. However, Excelsior's manager switched to a 3-5-2 at half-time, which gave them an extra man in midfield and allowed them to control possession. The switch also freed the wing-backs to push forward, and it was from a wide area that the equalising penalty was won. Achilles Veen struggled to adapt to the change, and their defence was increasingly stretched in the final 20 minutes, leading to the winning goal.

Standout Players

Kevin van der Velde was the hero for Excelsior Maassluis, scoring twice and leading the line with intelligence. His movement and finishing were of the highest quality. Mitchell van der Linden also impressed, not only for his winning goal but for his energy in midfield. For Achilles Veen, Rick van den Berg was a constant threat, scoring one and creating several chances. However, the home side's defence will be disappointed with the goals conceded, particularly the penalty and the winner, both of which came from avoidable errors.

Season Impact

Excelsior Maassluis climb to sixth in the Derde Divisie table with this victory, level on points with the teams in the playoff positions. Their away form has been excellent, with three wins from five on the road. Achilles Veen, meanwhile, drop to eighth, just outside the promotion playoff spots. They had been unbeaten at home before this match, and the defeat will be a psychological blow. Both teams have important fixtures next weekend, with Excelsior looking to build momentum and Achilles Veen aiming to bounce back quickly.