Vitesse edge five-goal thriller against Excelsior to move up to fourth

Vitesse recorded their first victory of 2019 after beating Excelsior 3-2 at the GelreDome.

Navarone Foor put the home side into a sixth-minute lead after a neat passing move saw Bryan Linssen play the midfielder through before slotting home from 12 yards.

Linssen doubled Vitesse's advantage with his sixth goal of the season, minutes after Excelsior had a Jurgen Mattheij effort disallowed on Video Assistant Referee review.

Tottenham loanee Marcus Edwards scored his first goal for Excelsior to pull one back in the 51st minute, firing in from distance.

However, Maikel Van Der Werff restored Vitesse's two-goal lead in the 67th minute to earn Martin Odegaard his second assist of the match before Jerdy Schouten scored Excelsior's second two minutes later to set up a tense finale, but the hosts held on.