Michiel Kramer scores hat-trick in Rotterdam derby

A Michiel Kramer hat-trick helped Feyenoord win the Rotterdam derby 4-2 against Excelsior at the Stadion Woudestein.

Dirk Kuyt nodded the away side in front after just two minutes after some quality wing play from Eljero Elia, who found Kramer but his effort was saved before Kuyt put away the rebound with his head.

Excelsior tried to equalise straight after and almost did as a strong Bas Kuipers cross was met by Tom van Weert, whose effort rebounded off the bost.

Feyenoord made it two midway through the first half after more good work found Kramer in the box, his initial header was palmed out to Kuty before he laid it off to Khalid Karami and Kramer diverted his shot beyond Tom Muyters in the Excelsior goal.

However, the hosts pulled one back just before the break as Jeff Stans put the ball past Kenneth Vermeer before Daryl van Mieghem helped nudge the ball over the line.

It would be nullified early in the second half as a Rick Karsdorp found Kramer in the box and the forward hit a diving header past Muytens to make it 3-1.

Kramer then scored his third after latching onto a poor back-pass from Brandley Kuwas and the summer signing from ADO Den Haag kept his cool to claim his hat-trick.

Van Weert got his reward for a good performance late on as he ended an Excelsior break with a strong shot that beat Vermeer at his near post.

Substitute Bilal Basacikoglu hit the bar in the final minutes as Feyenoord go level on points with Ajax at the top of the Eredivisie table.