After Feyenoord, NEC also conquers Sparta

With 36 goals in thirteen matches, NEC is the most scoring team at the highest level in the Netherlands after leader PSV.

Former PSV player Ernest Faber (54) new trainer and director of Heracles Almelo

Sparta held out for ten minutes against NEC. Then Koki Ogawa opened the score: 1-0. The attack started with goalkeeper Gonzalo Crettaz, after which Sami Ouaissa set the ball up for Ogawa with a backheel. Sparta had a chance to tie the score through Shunsuke Mito in the nineteenth minute, but Crettaz stopped his effort.

NEC gets a penalty on the advice of VAR

After Tjaronn Chery had headed wide from a promising position shortly before half-time, the second goal came for the home team in injury time of the first half. Defender Teo Quintero tackled Ouaissa in the penalty area. Referee Ingmar Oostrom allowed play to continue, but was then called aside by the video referee. Ogawa took advantage of the awarded penalty: 2-0.

Shortly after halftime, the tension disappeared completely from the game. Ouaissa headed home from close range in the fiftieth minute, assisted by Bryan Linssen, who also did the same with his head. Sparta did something back through Tobias Lauritsen: 3-1.

Sparta coach Maurice Steijn received a red card after the match. He commented on Oostrom, who first gave him a yellow card. When Steijn continued to talk and also made disapproving gestures with his hands, he received a second yellow card. Steijn is therefore suspended for the next competition match.