Lars Capiau
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Sparta Rotterdam recorded an easy victory over Vitesse on Tuesday evening: 1-4. The Rotterdam team proved to be far too strong for the suspected relegation candidate in the Gelredome and already had a 0-3 lead after more than forty minutes. Koki Saito and Pelle Clement both delivered a great match with a goal and an assist.
At Vitesse, Anis Hadj-Moussa naturally appeared at the kick-off. The Algerian international is of great interest to Feyenoord and seems likely to sign there soon. On the Sparta side, there were no changes in the starting eleven compared to the won match against Fortuna Sittard last Saturday (4-0).
Vitesse couldn't have started the match much worse. After exactly 380 seconds, the visitors had an early opening goal. After a messy situation in the Arnhem sixteen, Shunsuke Mito delivered a devastating score: 0-1.
Not much later, things looked a lot bleaker for the fans in the Gelredome. After good holding work by Koki Saito and a beautiful feint by Pelle Clement, the latter was able to easily finish: 0-2. The 0-3 also fell before the tea break. After a simple combination play in Vitesse's sixteen-meter area, Saito was able to take the lead after lax defending and score: 0-3.
Sparta, which seemed to be looking for peace with a 0-3 score, was dealt a small blow just before the whistle. A corner kick from Hadj-Moussa was headed in hard by Kacper Kozlowski: 1-3. It was well received by the home crowd, as soon after the goal We are going into Europe echoed from the stands. The 2-3 also seemed to be in the making, were it not for the fact that Marco van Ginkel narrowly missed in two instances (post and over).
Vitesse came out of the dressing room strong in the hunt for a quick tying goal. Sparta quickly dashed that last shred of hope. A free kick from Clement was creditably nodded in at the far post by Mike Eerdhuijzen: 1-4.
Soon after the 1-4, Sparta thought they had a great chance of a fifth goal. After a cross from the left, Nicolas Isimat-Mirin unfortunately fell on the ball with his arm. Referee Edwin van der Graaf didn't hesitate for a moment and placed the ball on the spot. The VAR on duty, Danny Makkelie, did not agree with that reading and Van de Graaf whistled back: no penalty.
Vitesse was given opportunities to give something back to its own audience. A shot by Paxton Aaronson was well saved by Nick Olij, who completed his double save on the rebound by also saving Andy Visser's effort.
In the final phase, Olij prevented another goal from the American. The Vitesse fans certainly enjoyed it, but the Arnhem team failed to score a second goal, making relegation one round closer.
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