Troy Parrott almost led Excelsior Rotterdam to one of the most dramatic comebacks in Dutch football history, with the Irishman scoring a hat-trick as his side came agonisingly close to overturning a four-goal first leg deficit and retain their place in the Eredivisie.
Having finished 16th in the Dutch top flight this season, Excelsior were involved in a four-team play off to decide the final spot in the division for the 2024/25 campaign.
They would overcome 9-2 on aggregate in their first tie of the process, with Parrott scoring a hat-trick in the second of those games. They would then face NAC in the deciding tie, only to lose 6-2 in the first leg away from home.
However, the Dubliner would almost help them complete a remarkable comeback in the second leg this evening.
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Troy Parrott heroics almost lead Excelsior to play-Off comeback
Troy Parrott would open the scoring in the 20th minute of the game, producing a tidy dribble and finish to put his team 1-0 up on the night.
🇳🇱 Goal: Troy Parrott | Excelsior 1-0 NAC Bredapic.twitter.com/2WRbAD72wz
— PushGoals (@PushGoals) June 2, 2024
He would then get his second from the penalty spot just after the half hour mark, before an own goal from Boy Kemper ensured Excelsior would be 3-0 up at the interval.
This meant that they needed just one more goal on the night to level the tie, with Parrott providing it in the 50th minute.
Bloody hell!
Troy Parrott has a second hat-trick in three games, and has Excelsior on the verge of overturning a 6-2 first leg deficit in their relegation play-off 🤯pic.twitter.com/9CguHJS4cy— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) June 2, 2024
A cracking header.
However, NEC would retake the aggregate lead a few minutes later via a goal from Casper Staring.
🇳🇱 Goal: Casper Staring | Excelsior 4-0 NAC Bredapic.twitter.com/ALvOVMevyX
— PushGoals (@PushGoals) June 2, 2024
Excelsior would push for that all important fifth goal in the closing stages, but it was not to be on the night. Despite their heroic effort, they will now be relegated from the Eredivisie.
This caps off a successful loan spell for Troy Parrott, who scored 17 goals and got five assists for the club in the league. That is especially impressive when you consider that his game time was also limited due to injury.
He will now return to Spurs this summer, although it is said that the likes of Ajax, Feyenoord, and PSV Eindhoven are all interested in bringing him back to the Netherlands next season.
Performances such as the one this evening certainly do his chances of earning a big move no harm.
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