Sparta Rotterdam II secured a comfortable 3-0 win over De Graafschap in the Second Division's Regular Season round seven on Saturday. The hosts put their best foot forward from the opening whistle, controlling proceedings and seeing off the visitors without serious incident. It was a straightforward afternoon for the home side, who took all three points at their own ground.
M. Gompel opened the scoring in the thirteenth minute, finishing a move that had been building since kick-off. To be fair, Sparta had looked sharper in training this week, and that intensity showed through. The goal came from a well-worked corner, with Gompel meeting the delivery at the near post and heading home past the keeper.
The visitors responded with some pressure of their own, but could not find the back of the net. By then, De Graafschap had picked up three yellow cards and were playing catch-up. M. Oukhattou restored the two-goal cushion in the fifty-first minute, capitalising on a defensive lapse just after the interval.
We had called for Sparta to win this one, with forty-three percent confidence. And here's the thing — that figure was perhaps generous, but it was right. The hosts have been improving since the summer, and De Graafschap have struggled away from home all season. The prediction held up, and the result reflected the gap between the sides.
Statistics do not always tell the full story, but they confirm what was visible on the pitch. Sparta registered eight shots on target against five for their opponents, while possession sat at fifty-one percent. The home side earned nine corners to De Graafschap's six, and created more chances overall.
The victory keeps Sparta Rotterdam II in fifth place on twelve points from seven games. De Graafschap remain fifteenth with six points, three defeats weighing on their campaign. This result extends the visitors' poor run away from home, while the hosts continue to climb toward the upper reaches of the table.
