FC Groningen suffered a disappointing 3-2 defeat against Excelsior in a thrilling Eredivisie encounter at their home ground, Euroborg, on May 3, 2026. The Green-White Army, playing in front of 22,525 fans, saw their hopes for a crucial victory dashed by a late Excelsior goal.

The match started brightly for FC Groningen, with Tika De Jonge opening the scoring just three minutes in, igniting the home crowd. Despite this early lead, Excelsior managed to equalize through Casper Widell in the 40th minute, sending the teams into halftime level.

FC Groningen regained the lead shortly after the break, with Younes Taha finding the net in the 47th minute. However, Excelsior showed resilience, with Sanches Fernandes leveling the score again in the 65th minute, setting up a tense final quarter.

The decisive blow came in the 90th minute when Gyan De Regt scored for Excelsior, securing a dramatic 3-2 victory for the visitors. This late goal left FC Groningen with no time to respond, sealing their fate in this Eredivisie fixture.

This result means FC Groningen, with a record of 12 wins, 6 draws, and 14 losses (42 points), remains in a challenging position in the 2025-26 Eredivisie regular season standings. Excelsior, with 9 wins, 7 draws, and 16 losses (34 points), gained valuable points in their campaign.

FC Groningen's starting lineup featured players like Etienne Vaessen in goal, with a defense including Dies Janse, Thijmen Blokzijl, Marvin Peersman, and Marco Rente. The midfield was anchored by Tika De Jonge, Tygo Land, and Jorg Schreuders, supporting attackers Younes Taha and Thom Van Bergen in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Excelsior played in a 4-3-3 formation. Ingmar Oostrom officiated the match.