Okoye The Hero As Sparta Rotterdam End Losing Run

The Castle-Lords had lost their last three league games, but they put a halt to the losing run after playing out a draw at Emmen

Maduka Okoye was brilliant in goal as Sparta Rotterdam picked up their first point in four games in the Eredivisie following a 1-1 draw against FC Emmen at the De Oude Meerdijk.

Although the result ended Sparta’s losing run, Okoye was disappointed not to have taken the three points on the night.

The Nigerian international kept Henk Fraser’s men in the game for most parts of the game with a couple of saves.

Okoye’s was first tested in the 40th minute, but the Nigerian had no problem in dealing with Glenn Bijil’s strike from a distance.

Sparta took the lead just two minutes before the break, courtesy of a strike from Laros Duarte. The second-half resumed with Emmen trying to find the equaliser, but they were almost denied by an inspired Okoye.

Okoye was called into action in the 61st minute, saving a shot from Sergio Pena. The 22-year-old then tipped over a Miguel Araujo freekick in the 73rd minute before saving another strike from Kerim Frei.

It looked like Okoye’s net would not be breached until Emmen were awarded a penalty in the fourth minute of added time.  Michael De Leeuw stepped up to convert the resulting penalty, which secured a point for the home side.