NOS Football•
View the summary of Sparta – FC Groningen
Sparta Rotterdam just keeps winning. Coach Maurice Steijn’s team defeated FC Groningen 2-0 at Het Kasteel and thus recorded their fifth win in a row in the Premier League. That last happened in the 1972/1973 season (then ten matches).
In addition, Sparta climbed to fifth place in the Premier League. Shunsuke Mito scored twice and goalkeeper Joël Drommel kept a clean sheet for the ninth time this season.
-
Eredivisie program and results -
Premier league standings
FC Groningen had to play against Sparta without suspended captain Stije Resink, who was injured last week against Fortuna Sittard (1-2 loss). Marco Rente therefore wore the captain’s armband.
The visitors were lucky that Shunsuke Mito’s goal was disallowed. Etienne Vaessen shot the ball against Pelle Clement, after which the Japanese scored. However, referee Sander van der Eijk had seen a foul by Clement.
Moments later, Groningen escaped again, because Mito shot eye-to-eye with Vaessen straight into the keeper’s face. On the other hand, Drommel made a nice save on a bet by Thom van Bergen.
Disallowed goal by Van Bergen, Mito opens the score
Moments later, Drommel capitulated to a beautiful backward header from Van Bergen from a corner. However, the VAR had detected annoying offside by Brynjólfur Willumsson. The Icelander held the goalkeeper lightly.
For example, the opening goal went past FC Groningen in the 40th minute and fell to Sparta in the 55th minute. After a few failed attempts, Mito was successful. Vaessen misjudged the Japanese’s mop shot.
After FC Groningen substitute Oskar Zawada’s headed goal was disallowed due to offside, Mito decided the match in the final minute with his second goal.