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Isaac Babadi needed just 31 seconds to announce his arrival at Sparta Rotterdam, scoring with his first touches after coming off the bench, only for a late header to deny his new side a victory.
The 21-year-old midfielder, on loan from PSV Eindhoven, entered Friday’s Eredivisie match against PEC Zwolle in the 68th minute at Het Kasteel. Almost immediately, Milan Zonneveld pounced on a loose pass and laid the ball off to the onrushing Babadi, who calmly poked it past goalkeeper Jasper Schendelaar to put Sparta ahead 2-1.
The goal marked the fastest debut strike by any Sparta player in Eredivisie history, according to Dutch public broadcaster NOS.
Zwolle had opened the scoring in the 21st minute through Ibrahim Cissoko, who curled a finish into the far corner after a swift counter attack. Sparta responded within three minutes when Zonneveld headed home from a corner for his third consecutive Eredivisie goal.
Both teams created chances throughout an end-to-end contest. Zwolle’s Dylan Mbayo struck the crossbar early in the second half, while Sparta’s Casper Terho hit the post before Babadi’s introduction.
The visitors, however, had the final word. In the 80th minute, Koen Kostons powered a header past Michael Brouwer from Tobias Sommer’s free kick, securing a 2-2 draw.
The result leaves both clubs with one win apiece this season, sitting in the lower half of the Eredivisie table. Babadi, who joined Sparta on a season-long loan with an option to buy just days before the transfer window closed, nearly delivered a winning debut for his new club.
