[goldenHuddlestone]

Vitesse Arnhem enjoyed a winning start to the new Eredivisie campaign after downing Sparta Rotterdam 2-1 on Friday night. In the first match of the new top-flight season in Holland, Vitesse came away with the spoils thanks to first-half goals from Danko Lazovic and Ruud Knol. Sparta pulled a goal back through Danny Schenkel 16 minutes from time but it was not enough to prevent his side from slumping to defeat in front of their own fans.

Vitesse could hardly have wished for a better start as they took the lead after just two minutes. Theo Janssen sent in a cross from the left which found Lazovic and although his first effort was saved by Rene Ponk in the Sparta goal, the striker made no mistake with the rebound. Lazovic really should have made it 2-0 two minutes later when he again found himself with just the goalkeeper to beat, but this time Ponk was able to come out on top.

With Vitesse continuing to boss the game, Sparta found themselves under pressure for virtually the entire first half and it was no surprise when they fell 2-0 behind, Knol slotting home from the penalty spot after Lazovic had been fouled. Sparta had to wait until the stroke of half-time before seriously threatening the Vitesse goal, when Haris Medunjanin can consider himself unlucky not to have reduced the arrears with a shot that went narrowly wide of the post.

The home side were much improved after the break and they created three decent chances in the opening 15 minutes without being able to find the net, the closest of which saw Vitesse clear the ball off their own line. Sparta did manage to get a goal back in the 74th minute through Schenkel but the home side were unable to build on that and net an equaliser.