Maduka Okoye outstanding as Sparta Rotterdam defeat Groningen to boost their chances of survival

Nigerian shot stopper Maduka Okoye took the turf on Saturday evening knowing his parent club Watford have officially been relegated to the English championship for next season.

Playing for Sparta Rotterdam who were precariously In danger of relegation from the Dutch Eredivise against Groningen, Maduka Okoye was outstanding between the posts as they secured a 1-2 win to move within three points of safety.

Groningen dominated the opening exchanges but failed to find a way past Maduka Okoye. Sparta Rotterdam drew first blood when Arno Verschueren opened the scoring in the 20th minute . A lead they maintained into the break .

Sparta Rotterdam doubled their lead through Lennart Thy 12 minutes into the second half . Groningen piled pressure on Rotterdam in search of an equalizer but Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye made save after save to preserve their lead.

Groningen however pulled one back thanks to Bjorn Meijer’s well-taken strike 13 minutes from time . Rotterdam held on for the win and three points that sees them move within three points of safety.

With the 2-1 away victory at the Hitachi Capital Sparta Rotterdam sit in 16th place (Relegation Playoff spot) on the Dutch Eredivise standings three points adrift of Fortuna Sittard who occupy the  15th spot.

Okoye and his teammates will next face fellow felegation threatened PEC Zwolle before ending the season away to Heracles.

Maduka Okoye will hope to maintain Sparta’s top flight status before he returns to Watford at the end of the season.