Netherlands round-up: Excelsior take giant step

SC Excelsior have taken a huge leap towards the Dutch Eredivisie by beating Sparta Rotterdam in the relegation/promotion play-offs.

Three points clear
Excelsior's 2-1 victory tonight means they are three points clear of Sparta with one game to go in Group B. Steve Olfers was the two-goal hero for Excelsior with strikes in the third and 23rd minutes. Ousmane Sanou hit a consolation for Sparta in the 67th minute but it was not enough.

Match abandoned
The other Group B game tonight between ADO Den Haag and FC Volendam was abandoned because of crowd trouble after 30 minutes with the score level at 0-0. Den Haag desperately need a win to keep them in contention for top spot.

Den Bosch delight
In Group A, RBC Roosendaal's hold on top spot was weakened by a 2-2 draw at home against Emmen while rivals FC Den Bosch were emphatic 5-2 victors against Cambuur Leeuwarden.

Vital equaliser
RBC had to come from behind twice, after Frank Broers' 15th-minute penalty and Dennis Iliohan's goal after 63 minutes, with Henk Vos scoring from the spot in the 40th minute and Geert den Ouden getting the vital equaliser in the 70th minute

Five-goal lead
Den Bosch, determined to maintain their top-flight status, were at the top of their game. They swept into a five-goal lead against Cambuur, with a Heldens own goal, and additional strikes from George Mourad, Peter Uneken (two) and Jan Michels. Berger and Domenique van Dijk replied in the final six minutes for the visitors but it was to no avail.