Two corners Eiting deliver three points against Sparta

FC Volendam took a big step towards maintaining their position in the premier league. At home against Sparta they won 2-1 at the last minute, making it almost certain that the visitors will meet FC Utrecht in the play-offs.

The game started spectacularly, then collapsed and reached its nadir just before halftime when a cup was thrown onto the field. So this was yet another match temporarily suspended in the premier league.

Sparta was unable to follow up its lightning start and had to thank goalkeeper Nick Olij for keeping the prospect of a point for a long time.

In the first few minutes of the game, Koki Saito attracted all the attention in a positive sense. The striker thought to give Sparta an early lead, but VAR had spotted offside in the build-up to the attack. But a few minutes later, Saito scored even more beautifully, with a seesaw over Filip Stankovic. And now it was indeed 0-1.

With a bit of luck, it was still tied before halftime. Routinier Aaron Meijers classically chased the ball into the stands so high and hard when defending that it was hard to tell whether Volendam deserved a throw-in or a corner kick. It seemed to be the former, but it became the latter.

Carel Eiting’s corner kick was headed in by Xavier Mbuyamba. That was already the fourth goal for the defender, but the tenth (!) assist for Eiting.

That equalizer fell shortly after a tactical change by coach Wim Jonk, which seemed to work out excellently. With Henk Veerman replacing Walid Ould-Chikh, the home club regained some control after a strong half-hour from Sparta.

It did not turn out to be a golden conversion at first, as the same Veerman missed a huge chance for the winning goal just before time. But from another one of Eiting’s sharply cut corners the long striker made up for his mistake, and was given a change in the crowd.