Eredivisie wrap: Groningen stumble, Willem woes continue

Groningen missed a chance to go top of the Eredivisie after conceding a last-minute equaliser away to struggling Excelsior on Saturday.

In third spot going into the match, one point behind Twente and two points back from leaders PSV Eindhoven, Groningen were on course to secure first place after going 2-0 up at the Stadion Woudestein.

They opened the scoring seven minutes in through Dusan Tadic and the lead doubled when Excelsior goalkeeper Cees Paauwe conceded an own-goal in the 29th minute.

Excelsior, third from bottom after two defeats in a row, pulled a goal back through a Ryan Koolwijk penalty four minutes into the second half.

Groningen were unable to restore their two-goal lead, but looked set to secure all three points until Daan Bovenberg struck an 89th minute equaliser to hand Excelsior a share of the spoils.

Willem II’s miserable season continued with a 2-1 defeat away to ADO Den Haag.

Rock bottom and yet to win a match, they did themselves no favours at the Het Zuiderpark, with a Niek Vossebelt own-goal handing ADO the lead just 10 minutes in.

Willem did manage to pull level thanks after Bart Biemans beat Den Haag goalkeeper Gino Coutinho in the 51st minute, but they fell behind once again just a minute later via another own-goal, this time conceded by Veli Lampi.

Defeat leaves Gert Heerkes’ side six points adrift at the foot of the table despite having played one game more than second-bottom VVV Venlo.

Vitesse Arnhem remain fourth from bottom after a 1-1 draw away to NAC Breda.

The visitors went ahead 30 minutes in at the Rat Verlegh Stadion, but a second-half equaliser from Nemanja Gudelj helped secure a point for NAC, who finished the match with ten men following the dismissal of Tim Gilissen with seven minutes remaining.

Luciano Narsingh scored a brace with a goal in each half as Heerenveen climbed to seventh after a 4-0 win over De Graafschap.