Heerenveen edge Sparta as Brouwers strikes late to climb to eighth | OneFootball

Match in Five Sentences: Heerenveen beat Sparta Rotterdam 2-1 at the Abe Lenstra Stadion. Jacob Trenskow put the hosts ahead in the 40th minute with a left-footed finish from the centre of the box. Brouwers' strike (82.) proved decisive as Mitchell van Bergen reduced the deficit (86.) after Pelle Clement's pass. Sparta held 55.5% possession yet registered only three shots on target. The win lifts Heerenveen from 10th to 8th, and they visit Excelsior next, while Sparta host PEC Zwolle.

Player of the Match: Trenskow set the tone with the opener, adding four attempts, two key passes and seven touches in the box while linking attacks throughout.

Stat of the Match: Heerenveen produced 35 clearances, a disciplined rearguard that absorbed long spells without the ball.

Three Things We Learned: Substitute Luuk Brouwers scored the second goal, underlining the bench impact for the hosts. Sparta attempted 27 crosses at just 14.8% accuracy, which blunted their route back into the contest. Heerenveen created 14 shots from inside the box compared with three for Sparta, reflecting sharper chance locations.