Ajax 2-2 Excelsior: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings

How the match unfolded

Ajax struck first through Julian Brandt in the 32nd minute, set up by Kasper Dolberg. Excelsior levelled at 1-1 in the 45th minute (+1) through Lennard Hartjes. Excelsior turned it round: Aymen Sliti made it 1-2 in the 62nd minute, set up by Irakli Yegoian. Ajax levelled at 2-2 in the 64th minute through Tolu Arokodare, set up by Oscar Gloukh.

It was 1-1 at half-time.

The lead changed hands once.

The referee, J. van der Laan, showed 3 yellow cards: 1 to Ajax and 2 to Excelsior.

Ajax: M. Sánchez Muñoz, 4-3-3 · Excelsior: R. den Uil, 4-3-3.

Moneyball's prediction against the result

Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.

Why it went this way

On the day the expected goals were 0.59 for Ajax and 3.53 for Excelsior.

Ajax scored about 1.4 more than their chances were worth: clinical finishing, or a goalkeeper having a bad day.

Excelsior left about 1.5 goals' worth of chances on the pitch.

Excelsior created the better chances, 3.53 xG to 0.59, and still did not win. On chances alone, the result could easily have gone the other way.

Ajax had 8 shots on target, Excelsior 2.

Excelsior's goalkeeper made 6 saves.

Ajax had 81% of the ball.

Where the two sides stood before this match

Ajax came into it with 9 Eredivisie matches played, scoring 3.0 and conceding 1.3 a match, with 2.67 expected goals for and 1.25 against, and had won 56% of their matches.

Excelsior came into it with 10 Eredivisie matches played, scoring 1.6 and conceding 1.9 a match, with 1.36 expected goals for and 1.79 against, and had won 30% of their matches.

Ajax vs Excelsior: the match in numbers

Team statistics from Sportmonks.

Player ratings and man of the match

Man of the match: Oscar Gloukh (Ajax), rated 9.1 by Sportmonks, with 1 assist.

Ajax

• Oscar Gloukh 9.1 1 assist
• Julian Brandt 8.1 1 goal
• Anton Gaaei 7.8
• Tolu Arokodare 7.7 1 goal
• Kasper Dolberg 7.3 1 assist

Excelsior

• Stijn van Gassel 7.6
• Aymen Sliti 7.3 1 goal
• Lennard Hartjes 7.3 1 goal
• Casper Widell 7.1
• Irakli Yegoian 6.9 1 assist

The lowest-rated starter was Ágúst Orri Thorsteinsson at 6.0. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.

What comes next

• Ajax: Sparta Rotterdam vs Ajax Sunday 25 October 2026 · Eredivisie
• Excelsior: Excelsior vs FC Twente Sunday 1 November 2026 · Eredivisie

Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.

Questions about Ajax vs Excelsior

What was the score in Ajax vs Excelsior?

Ajax 2-2 Excelsior (half-time 1-1), Eredivisie, Saturday 19 September 2026.

Who scored in Ajax vs Excelsior?

Julian Brandt 32', Lennard Hartjes 45+1', Aymen Sliti 62', Tolu Arokodare 64'.

Did Moneyball predict Ajax vs Excelsior correctly?

Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.

Who was man of the match in Ajax vs Excelsior?

Oscar Gloukh, rated 9.1 by Sportmonks.

Who refereed Ajax vs Excelsior?

J. van der Laan.