ROTTERDAM (Interstat) — Heerenveen scored four unanswered goals and defeated Jong Sparta 4-0 in an Eredivisie match Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel. The visitors controlled the game after a quiet opening and pulled away with goals in the 28th, 43rd, 56th and 75th minutes. Heerenveen improved to 2 wins, 2 losses and 4 draws in the competition and 2 wins, 2 losses and 4 draws across all competitions. Jong Sparta fell to 1 win, 4 losses and 2 draws in the competition and 1 win, 4 losses and 2 draws overall. The match was organized by the Eredivisie in the Netherlands.

Nolhan Courtens opened the scoring for Heerenveen in the 28th minute and finished with one goal in 85 minutes. Jacob Trenskow doubled the lead in the 43rd minute, and Maxence Rivera made it 3-0 in the 56th. Marko Farji added the fourth in the 75th minute, closing with one goal in 17 minutes of action. Courtens was the most prominent attacking threat for Heerenveen, while Farji’s late strike completed the scoring. Heerenveen’s four-goal output marked a decisive response after a scoreless opening stretch and put the game beyond Jong Sparta before the final quarter-hour. Heerenveen’s lead remained intact through halftime, and the visitors continued to press after the break. Rivera’s goal came 13 minutes after Trenskow’s strike, and Farji’s goal arrived 19 minutes later. Jong Sparta was shown two yellow cards in the match. Julian Baas was booked in the 24th minute, and Marvin Young received a yellow card in the 61st. Jong Sparta’s bookings came during different phases, with Baas cautioned before the opening goal and Young cautioned after Heerenveen had built a three-goal advantage.

Heerenveen entered the match after a 0-0 draw with Telstar on Sept. 13 and another 0-0 draw with Telstar on Sept. 12. Earlier this season, Heerenveen lost to AZ, drew with Willem II, lost to Zwolle, drew with Ajax and beat Twente. The team’s recent form included a 2-2 draw at Willem II on Aug. 30, a 2-0 home loss to Zwolle on Aug. 22, a 2-2 draw at Ajax on Aug. 16 and a 1-0 home win over Twente on Aug. 9. Heerenveen also lost 3-2 at home to AZ on Sept. 6.

Jong Sparta entered after a 4-1 loss at PSV on Sept. 13. Its previous results also included a 2-2 draw at home against Zwolle on Sept. 4, a 2-1 loss at Excelsior on Aug. 29, a 3-3 draw at home against Utrecht on Aug. 22, a 3-1 win at Telstar on Aug. 14 and a 1-0 home loss to Feyenoord on Aug. 9. Those results left Jong Sparta searching for consistency before the visit from Heerenveen. Jong Sparta’s record in the competition is now 1 win, 4 losses and 2 draws, and its overall record is identical.

Heerenveen’s upcoming schedule includes trips to PSV on Oct. 9 and Oct. 10, Den Haag on Oct. 24, Groningen on Nov. 21 and two visits to Sittard on Nov. 28 and Nov. 29. The team also has home matches against Excelsior on Oct. 16, NEC on Oct. 31, Feyenoord on Nov. 8 and Cambuur on Dec. 5. Jong Sparta will visit Go Ahead on Oct. 10, Groningen on Nov. 1, Den Haag on Nov. 7, Cambuur on Nov. 28, Twente on Dec. 12 and Sittard on Dec. 19. Its home schedule includes Willem II on Oct. 17, Ajax on Oct. 25, AZ on Nov. 21 and NEC on Dec. 5.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Jong Sparta 1, Heerenveen 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Jong Sparta with a 77.3 percent probability to win. The actual result differed sharply from both projections, as Heerenveen scored four times and kept a clean sheet.