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Maduka Okoye's clean sheet run comes to an end as Amin Sarr denies Sparta Rotterdam

The 22-year-old goalkeeper was in action on Sunday afternoon, but his perfect run of form in goal came to an end.
Maduka Okoye 4 (IMAGO/Pro Shots)
Maduka Okoye 4 (IMAGO/Pro Shots)

Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye made his 22nd appearance in the Dutch Eredivisie this season as Sparta Rotterdam played out a 1-1 draw against Heerenveen in their clash at The Castle on Sunday afternoon.

Okoye took his place in Sparta's goal despite missing Nigeria's World Cup playoff matches against Ghana last month.

The 22-year-old was in impeccable form for Sparta in March, keeping a clean sheet in their two league games.

His form earned him the Eredivisie goalkeeper for the month of March. Okoye went into the game against Heerenveen hoping to continue his run of clean sheets, but Amin Sarr's equaliser in the second half denied him a third consecutive clean sheet.

Okoye had a relatively comfortable first half, with Heerenveen managing just one shot on target, which was dealt with comfortably by the Nigerian shot-stopper.

The game lightened up after the break as Sparta took the lead in the 52nd minute through Vito van Crooij.

However, their lead lasted only five minutes as Nick Bakker's brilliant pass found Sarr, who slotted past an onrushing Okoye.

The goal gave the away side more confidence, and they went close to taking the lead moments later but were denied by Sparta's Nigerian goalkeeper.

Sparta also had a chance of their own but could not convert, meaning both sides had to share the spoils.

The result leaves Henk Fraser's men in 16th place with 22 points from 26 games, although they have two games in hand.

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