Sparta Rotterdam dig in to climb to sixth at Utrecht | OneFootball

Match in Five Sentences: Utrecht were beaten 1-0 by Sparta Rotterdam at Stadion Galgenwaard. Shunsuke Mito struck in the seventh minute, finishing a fast break from Mitchell Van Bergen's pass. After sustained late pressure, VAR ruled no penalty for Utrecht in the third minute of second half stoppage time. The hosts controlled the ball with 58.5% possession and forced 10 corners, but Joel Drommel's handling and positioning kept them out. Sparta Rotterdam rise from eighth to sixth and host Groningen next, while Utrecht drop from 10th to 11th and visit Celtic in the Europa League next.

Player of the Match: Joel Drommel made six saves and commanded his area under a barrage of crosses, preserving the away clean sheet.

Stat of the Match: Sparta Rotterdam produced 35 clearances, a snapshot of how they protected their early lead.

Three Things We Learned: Adrian Blake hit the bar late (89.), underlining Utrecht's pressure in the closing stages. Dani de Wit missed two big chances and won five aerial duels, summing up the home side's squandered threat. The visitors had zero corners and just five attempts, yet converted one and survived thanks to 60.0% shot accuracy and disciplined defending.