NEC Nijmegen took a giant leap toward Eredivisie safety after two goals in four minutes from substitute Patrick Pothuizen turned their game against Sparta Rotterdam upside down for a 4-2 win.
Marvin Emnes had given the visitors an early lead, which lasted until Kevin Bobson's equaliser just after the hour mark.
Emnes scored his second soon after, and it remained 2-1 until NEC coach introduced 35-year-old defender Pothuizen with 11 minutes remaining.
He scored just three minutes after coming on, and put NEC into the lead four minutes later before Youssef El Akchaoui grabbed a late fourth.
The win takes NEC 10 points clear of the relegation play-off zone with five games to play, whereas Sparta remain in 14th place, just a point away from danger.
Emnes opened the scoring with a second-minute volley from 12 yards, pouncing on the rebound after Gabor Babos parried Daryl Roberts' shot.
Both Babos and opposite-number Harald Wapenaar made good saves throughout the half, before Bobson equalised on 61 minutes with a powerful 14-yard strike.
But only three minutes later 19-year-old Emnes scored his second of the evening for Foeke Booy's side, who had six players booked, as NEC players complained he had illegally brought-down Muslu Nalbantoglu.
Pothuizen scored his first heading in an El Akchaoui corner, though Cees Toet's attempted goalline clearance bounced off defender Jerold Promes and into the goal.
There was also confusion over Pothuizen's second, after Sparta defender Kim Jaggy was knocked down by NEC's Jeremain Lens in the penalty area, and Pothuizen fired in the loose ball to make it 3-2.
El Akchaoui scored a fourth from close-range in injury time, sprinting into the area to connect with a Brett Holman pass and sending Wapenaar the wrong way.
Emnes scored his second soon after, and it remained 2-1 until NEC coach introduced 35-year-old defender Pothuizen with 11 minutes remaining.
He scored just three minutes after coming on, and put NEC into the lead four minutes later before Youssef El Akchaoui grabbed a late fourth.
The win takes NEC 10 points clear of the relegation play-off zone with five games to play, whereas Sparta remain in 14th place, just a point away from danger.
Emnes opened the scoring with a second-minute volley from 12 yards, pouncing on the rebound after Gabor Babos parried Daryl Roberts' shot.
Both Babos and opposite-number Harald Wapenaar made good saves throughout the half, before Bobson equalised on 61 minutes with a powerful 14-yard strike.
But only three minutes later 19-year-old Emnes scored his second of the evening for Foeke Booy's side, who had six players booked, as NEC players complained he had illegally brought-down Muslu Nalbantoglu.
Pothuizen scored his first heading in an El Akchaoui corner, though Cees Toet's attempted goalline clearance bounced off defender Jerold Promes and into the goal.
There was also confusion over Pothuizen's second, after Sparta defender Kim Jaggy was knocked down by NEC's Jeremain Lens in the penalty area, and Pothuizen fired in the loose ball to make it 3-2.
El Akchaoui scored a fourth from close-range in injury time, sprinting into the area to connect with a Brett Holman pass and sending Wapenaar the wrong way.
Copyright (c) Press Association
Related Articles
Matildas Abroad: A jam-packed weekend ahead
Two Aussie A-League defenders leave Victory for overseas
