Sparta beats Feyenoord in Rotterdam derby

Oct 19, 2009 - 7:35 PM ENSCHEDE, Netherlands(AP) -- Kevin Strootman scored a late winner as Sparta Rotterdam beat Feyenoord 2-1 in a fiery Rotterdam derby that saw three red cards on Sunday.

Winger Rydell Poepon's 57th minute equalizer cancelled out Andre Bahia's first half opener for Feyenoord before Strootman got a 84th minute winner to steer his club out of the relegation zone in the Dutch league.

Feyenoord had forwards Jon Dahl Tomasson and Sekou Cisse dismissed in the second half for separate reckless challenges while Poepon was sent off after picking up his second yellow card in the 69th minute.

FC Twente maintained its unbeaten start to the season with a 3-2 win over defending champion AZ Alkmaar Saturday while PSV Eindhoven beat SC Heerenveen 1-0.

Twente leads the league standings with 26 points. PSV is next with 24, one more than Ajax, which beat Willem II Saturday. Feyenoord has 20.

Also Sunday, Bas Dost netted the winner as Heracles Almelo beat last-place RKC Waalwijk 1-0, while FC Groningen drew 0-0 with FC Utrecht.

Ken Leemans scored a 60th minute equalizer from a Keisuke Honda corner in VVV-Venlo's 1-1 draw against Roda JC. Morten Skoubo had given Roda a 34th minute lead.

John Goossens netted 20 minutes from time to give NEC Nijmegen a 1-1 draw against visiting ADO The Hague. Bogdan Milic scored in the 31st minute for ADO.