NEC Nijmegen have lost their third game in a row after Sparta Rotterdam recorded a 2-0 win on Sunday.
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Sparta Rotterdam’s top scorer from last season Thomas Verhaar was finally given his first start of the season and he found the net after only 17 minutes. The Belgian fired a cross from Denzel Dumfries past Joris Delle and into the far corner.
The hosts continued to dominate for the rest of the first half but failed to net a second with Delle denying Verhaar, while Zakaria El Azouzzi passed up two good chances.
NEC improved after the break and André Fomitschow was unluck to see his shot hit the crossbar, while Quincy Owusu-Abeyie hit a free-kick just wide. However, on 81 minutes Sparta sealed their victory with El Azzouzi tapping in from close range.