Saturday 14 April 2018 23:18, UK
Bryan Linssen scored twice in the second half as Vitesse strengthened their hold on a spot in the Eredivisie European qualifying play-offs with a 7-0 victory over 10-man Sparta Rotterdam on Saturday.
Thulani Serero, Roy Beerens and a Sander Fischer own goal gave the hosts a 3-0 lead at the GelreDome, while visiting striker Michiel Kramer was sent off for a challenge on Alexander Buttner just before the break.
Linssen scored his double either side of efforts from Tim Matavz and Thomas Bruns as Vitesse bounced back from a four-match winless run to move up a spot to sixth and leave Sparta just four points off the bottom of the table.
PEC Zwolle dropped two points following a 1-1 home draw against Excelsior as Youness Mokhtar's opener was cancelled out by a Mike van Duinen penalty.
The hosts dropped down a spot to occupy the last European qualifying play-off spot.
Reza Ghoochannejhad and Nemanja Mihajlovic were on target as Heerenveen kept the pressure on the top seven with a 2-0 victory away to VVV-Venlo.
Elsewhere, FC Twente remain stranded at the bottom after losing the lead to suffer a 2-1 defeat at ADO Den Haag as Bjorn Johnsen netted in each half after Fredrik Jensen's 13th-minute opener.
