Twente Enschede 2-1 Excelsior
FC Twente went top of the Eredivisie with a sixth straight win at home to Excelsior this evening.
Michel Preud'homme's side, who beat Werder Bremen 2-0 in the Champions League in midweek, did it the hard way, though, coming from behind after Leendert van Steensel had given the visitors a second minute lead.
Nacer Chadli, who scored in midweek, netted again to level before the half-hour mark and Marc Janko grabbed the winner in the 75th minute.
The victory moved Twente a point ahead of PSV Eindhoven and Ajax, both of whom play tomorrow.
The hosts got off to the worst possible start as Ryan Koolwijk swung in a dangerous free-kick from the right which Van Steensel, up from the back, flicked on into the net.
Dario Vujicevic's volley from the edge of the area after Excelsior only half cleared a corner was cleared off the line as Twente threatened an equaliser, and one arrived in the 26th minute.
The ball dropped to Chadli 15 yards out after Janko won a header and, surrounded by three defenders, the Belgian winger juggled the ball before lashing a right-footed volley on the turn into the net.
Chadli was looking dangerous and his left-wing cross picked out Douglas in space, but he could only send his header over the top.
Twente continued to dominate after the break, but were almost undone again at the back.
Nayib Lagouireh cut in from the left and fired in a powerful shot which was deflected, forcing goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov to make a smart save with his outstretched leg.
Luuk de Jong headed narrowly wide from a Douglas delivery as Twente hit back and they went ahead with 15 minutes to go, Janko getting to Denny Landzaat's low right-wing cross before his marker and turning the ball home at the near post.
Benjamin Baltes tried his luck with an overhead kick which did not carry enough power to beat Mihaylov as Excelsior looked to snatch a point, and they almost did so two minutes into stoppage time when substitute Shabir Isoufi went through on goal, but Mihaylov raced off his line to smother the ball at his feet and seal a Twente victory.