Young Australian midfielder Ajdin Hrustic has broken through for his Eredivisie debut, coming on for the final 20 minutes of FC Groningen’s 0-0 draw at AZ Alkmaar.
Hrustic, 20, joined fellow Australian Jason Davidson in helping Groningen hold out for an important point on the road.
The former Schalke youth player has been on the bench several times this season and was recently called into a 22-player Australian development squad designed to identify future Caltex Socceroos.
Hrustic will hope to establish his place alongside Davidson, who helped secure Groningen’s seventh clean sheet of the season in what was his 14th start since joining on loan in August.
After finishing seventh last season, Groningen currently find themselves in 12th with six victories.
Craig Goodwin also earned 35 minutes off the bench overnight but the winger was unable to help Sparta Rotterdam avoid a 2-0 home defeat against PSV.
Kenny Dougall remained among the substitutes as Sparta slipped to their 14th loss of the season.
Elsewhere in Europe, Scott Jamieson played a full 90 minutes in IFK Goteborg’s season-opening 1-1 draw with Malmo in Sweden.