LIVE premier league | Sparta finally gets the ball between the posts: Mito takes the lead at half time against Go Ahead Eagles | Sport

Sparta and Go Ahead Eagles seemed to end the first half goalless, but Shunsuke Mito decided differently at the last minute. The Japanese made it 1-0 for Sparta with his precise shot into the far corner, which therefore went to rest with a lead.

Finally there is the first shot between the posts of Sparta and yes: it is a hit! Shunsuke Mito places the ball with his left foot in the right corner, where Jari de Busser is left behind. It is 1-0 for Sparta.

You don’t expect it: a minute later it suddenly happens. Now to say it was an impressive effort by Mathis Suray? No. But Go Ahead Eagles did score the first shot on goal through the attacker. Joël Drommel can easily clamp.

Played for half an hour in Rotterdam-West, where we have to wait for Sparta and Go Ahead Eagles to give goalkeepers Jari de Busser and Joël Drommel work. We have now seen eight shots, but not one of them was between the posts.

Go Ahead Eagles defender Julius Dirksen chokes on a high ball and suddenly Vito van Crooij seems to have a free passage towards Jari de Busser. However, Sparta’s ’10’ plays the ball to the left, where Shunsuke Mito picks up the ball. The Japanese shoots the ball just over in a promising position.

…and it’s certainly not bad. The right winger rushes in and smells his opportunity. The right winger’s shot goes over Joël Drommel’s goal.

A good action by Mitchell van Bergen again leads to danger from Sparta. The left winger of the Rotterdam team cuts inside and lashes out with the right, but sees his attempt fly just over Jari de Busser’s goal.

Tobias Lauritsen gives himself a shooting opportunity in the box. However, the Sparta striker shoots the ball from the bounce over the goal of Go Ahead goalkeeper Jari de Busser.

The first shooting opportunity is for the home team. Shunsuke Mito receives the ball in front of his left hand, but does not aim the ball between the posts.

Go Ahead Eagles has put the ball in play for the first time. We started at The Castle!

The Sparta selection’s trip caused discussion in several places. The day after the hard defeat against Telstar (4-1), the players flew to Valencia for a few days. Strange timing, or does this trip bring the much-needed freshness for a successful final sprint? “It was an obligation that everyone came along.” Read more here.

Among the visitors we see the same eleven names as in recent weeks.

After the one-off 3-5-2 setup against Telstar, Sparta coach Maurice Steijn returns to the old familiar 4-3-3 against Go Ahead Eagles. Teo Quintero is back from suspension and keeps Bruno Martins Indi on the bench again. Shunsuke Mito plays and Giannino Vianello, who made his starting debut against Telstar, will also appear in the starting line-up this afternoon. Mike Kleijn is missing with an injury.

Playing round 32 will conclude this afternoon from 4.45 pm with two matches: AZ-FC Twente and Sparta-Go Ahead Eagles. The last match is particularly interesting in view of the European play-offs. This afternoon, the Deventers can fully participate in the battle for ninth place if they win against the Kasteelclub. You don’t have to miss anything about all the developments at Het Kasteel in this live blog!