Groningen vs Sparta Rotterdam 2-3

Sparta Rotterdam came from behind to win 3-2 at Groningen, with Andrej Kostić scoring the winner in the 85th minute after coming on in the 71st. Groningen led twice, and Sparta finished the stronger side.

Groningen opened the scoring in the first minute when Jacob Ondrejka finished from Brynjólfur Darri Willumsson, before Tika de Jonge was booked in the 5th minute. Cedric Hatenboer levelled for Sparta in the 15th minute from Marvin Young’s pass, Milan Zonneveld put the visitors ahead in the 25th minute, and Thom Van Bergen restored parity for Groningen in the 29th minute from Hans Hateboer’s assist. It was 2-2 at half-time.

Sparta made a change at the break, replacing Nick Verschuren with Teo Quintero León in the 45th minute, and later sent on Robin van Cruijsen for Jens Toornstra in the 55th. They made two more changes in the 71st minute, with Milan Zonneveld and Isaac Achmed Koroma Junior Babadi replaced by Andrej Kostić and Shunsuke Mito, while Groningen made three changes in the 83rd minute. Kostić then decided it late, converting in the 85th minute to make it 3-2. Groningen then sent on Oskar Zawada for Marco Rente and Sparta brought on Giannino Vianello for Mitchell Van Bergen in the 87th minute.

Groningen had 59% of the ball, 500 passes to Sparta Rotterdam’s 340, and twice as many shots, 20 to 8, with 10 on target to 4. Sparta still had the better expected goals, 2.48 to 2.18, and won 7 corners to Groningen’s 2. Groningen had 1 save to Sparta’s 8, while both sides were caught offside a handful of times, with Groningen on 2 and Sparta on 3.

The bookings were Tika de Jonge in the 5th minute, Bruno Martins Indi in the 36th, Lushendry Martes in the 61st and Cedric Hatenboer in the 75th. There were no red cards.