March 04, (THEWILL) – Sparta Rotterdam was on the verge of a critical 1-0 victory over Vitesse Arnhem, thanks to a magnificent performance by Nigerian goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, before the game was called off in the 92nd minute due to crowd unrest.
Vitesse came into the game with two victories under their belts and were looking for another strong showing ahead of their match against AS Roma on Thursday.
But, it was Adrian Dalmau who scored from close range after only five minutes to give Sparta Rotterdam the early lead.
Vitesse went in search of an equaliser, but Okoye was in fine form, saving shots from Lois Openda and Toni Domgjoni, among others. Dalmau thought he had scored a brace for 2-0 at the opposite end, but his goal was disallowed due to offside.
When Tom Beugelsdijk fouled Thomas Buitink in the 63rd minute, Vitesse were offered an opportunity to draw level when referee Rob Dieperink awarded them a penalty. But, Openda’s spot kick was saved by the remarkable Okoye.
Sparta were on their way to a massive win, but the game was called off in stoppage time due to crowd disturbance. One fan encroached into the pitch and assaulted Okoye, while other fans hurled items from the stands as well.
The fixture was subsequently called off when the players were removed from the field. Both clubs will now wait to see what the verdict about the negative crowd behaviour will be.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
