ZEIST, Sep 12 (SW) – Dutch national champions Saestum won their first match in the UEFA Women’s Cup against a physically strong Sparta Prague. The game was nerve-wrecking right until the dying seconds, when Gilanne Louwaars scoring the 3-1 decider in injury time. Saestum coach Rik de Groot spoke to Soccerway.

An crowd of 600 watched the very attractive match in Zeist. Saestum started well. On ten minutes a Nangila van Eyck cross was chipped in by Shirley Smith to make it 1-0.

Home crowd's excitement cooled down just two minutes after the opener. Katerina Doskova scored a superb banana shot from twenty metres that went straight into the top corner.

On twenty minutes Saestum got their deserved lead when Anouk Hoogendijk headed in the 2-1. At that moment Saestum was winning on possession.

Towards the break Sparta Prague came back strong. But it was Saestum that scored again by Hoogendijk. But the referee saw a foul by Lisan Vermeulen and didn’t count the goal.

In the second half Janneke Bijl of Saestum missed two big changes in one-on-one situations with the Prague goalkeeper. With the women from Zeist not scoring the game was exciting to the end. Even after Sparta's Monika Matysova got sent off after her second yellow card the Czechs kept pressing.

In injury time a beautiful goal from Gilanne Louwaars smashed all Prague dreams. From 25 metres a shot went in via the crossbar leaving the goalkeeper with out a chance.

Saestum coach Rik de Groot was impressed by the physical and conditional strength of Sparta Prague. The hard play of the Czechs was a totally new experience for the Dutch players de Groot told Soccerway. The answer from Saestum came from the wings. In the end, the spectators were the true winners in this exciting game.

Saestum – Sparta Prague 3-1 (2-1)

Attendance: 600
Goals: 10. Shirley Smith 1-0, 12. Katerina Doskova 1-1, 20. Anouk Hoogendijk 2-1, 90. Gilanne Louwaars 3-1