With the best start to the season since 1991 and sixth place after ten rounds in the Eredivisie, Sparta Rotterdam could not complain this season. FC Utrecht had just had a difficult start to the season. Both trends were broken in the Galgenwaard. Utrecht defeated Sparta 3-1.

Utrecht coach Henk Fraser has been head coach of Sparta for the last four years and left last season four rounds before the end. The Rotterdam club were last at the time but maintained their position under successor Maurice Steijn. With Steijn, Sparta continued to perform well this season.

For Fraser, losing to his old club would have been a heavy blow. It didn’t come to that. Sparta saw midfield strategist Jonathan de Guzman fail in the warm-up and, although they showed better field play for a long time, had to cede the points to Utrecht.

Early goal Redan

Daishawn Redan scored the opener for the home side early on. The striker headed in a beautiful cross from Taylor Booth at the far post. Both sides had chances to score as the second half progressed.

Tobias Lauritsen headed in the equalizer at the far post from a Sven Mijnans cross, similar to Redan for Utrecht, but hampered by Utrecht captain Mark van der Maarel, the Norwegian headed wide of the far post.

Anastasios Douvikas, on the other hand, was unlucky: The Greek only hit the post. Sparta goalkeeper Nick Olij also made two great saves from bets by Luuk Brouwers and again Douvikas. Just in time for half-time, Utrecht keeper Vasilis Barkas had no chance of a shot from Mijnans across the bar, but Sparta’s goal was blocked by Lauritsen’s hand.

Early goal Douvikas

As in the first half, Utrecht struck early in the second half. Douvikas headed in Booth from a corner. Sean Klaiber made it 3-0 with a long-range shot in the final phase. Goalkeeper Olij didn’t see the shot coming, made a strange arm movement and the ball disappeared into the goal.

Joshua Kitolano scored the Spartan consolation goal and that was it at the Galgenwaard. Without convincing, Frasers Utrecht clinched victory after two defeats against AZ (1:2) and PSV (6:1).

Sparta, who last won against Utrecht in 2008, remain sixth in the Eredivisie despite their first defeat since 9/11 by Feyenoord (0-3). Utrecht is within two points of Sparta and is in seventh place.