Okoye unlucky as historic night turns sour for Sparta

For the first time in a long time, Sparta are looking to qualify for Europe, but that dream drew closer to being aborted with an unfortunate loss on Wednesday evening

Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye conceded two cheeky goals as Sparta Rotterdam fell 2-0 to Feyenoord in the first leg of their semifinals clash in the Eredivisie’s Europa Conference League playoffs.

Okoye has been one of Sparta’s most outstanding stars of the 2020/21 Eredivisie campaign, keeping ten clean sheets to help Henk Fraser’s side finish eighth on the league table.

That impressive finish placed the Spartans in the pool of four teams, alongside Feyenoord, Groningen, and Utrecht, to justle for the lone Europa League ticket.

Sparta made the short trip to the Stadion Feijenoord in search of their first taste of continental football since 1986 when they lost a UEFA Cup tie versus Borrusia Monchengladbach.

But De Kasteelheren met an inspired home side equally keen on ending the campaign on a high.