Maduka Okoye was impressive in goal for Sparta Rotterdam in the Eredivisie as they continue their push for survival or perhaps postponed what increasingly looks like an inevitable end.
Okoye was between the sticks when AZ Alkmaar visited the Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel and it was the Nigerian’s 27th league appearance this season.
In the first half he pulled off two saves as the hosts were on the back foot for long spells.
So far this season the 22 year-old has kept just six clean sheets and the defensive frailties that has haunted them all season yet again reared its head a few minutes after the restart.
The visitors got a goal in 48th minute, although it was reviewed by VAR for an offside, it would later be given and so the leaky Sparta defence conceded for the 46th time – not the worst defence in the league though.
Eventually, De Kasteelheren responded late in the game, Vito van Crooij with a stoppage time equalizer to earn Henk Fraser’s side a point.
So far, the relegation battlers have shared points 11 times this season, the most by any team in the Eredivisie and it is one of the shortcomings of the side.
Their chance of finishing in the playoff spot is also a possibility that Fraser may consider, with just goals difference separating them from 16th placed Zwolle and two points from survival with three rounds of games left.
