Maduka Okoye made his first start in the Dutch Eredivisie for Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday but it was a day to forget for the Super Eagles goalkeeper who let in four goals in the 4-1 loss to SC Heerenveen.

Okoye was handed the nod in goal by manager Henk Fraser for a second consecutive game after impressing on his first competitive start for the club in the penalty shootout loss to Ado Den Haag in the KNVB Beker Cup.

And Okoye might have wished he remained on the bench after suffering a chastening ninety minutes as Sparta lost at home.

Benjamin Nygren put the visitors ahead after only seven minutes and it was 2-0 on the 25th minute mark after Jan Paul van Hecke swept in.

Heerenveen were in complete control and added a third just before half time through Henk Veerman who added his second of the game and the visitors’ fourth in the 57th minute.

A penalty by Lennart Thy in added time added respectability to the scoreline for Sparta who remain mired in relegation waters with three points after seven games.