Cabinet releases one and a half meter rule for more audience in the Eredivisie

Eljero Elia cannot prevent point loss of FC Utrecht at official return

Friday, 18 September 2020 to

FC Utrecht did not succeed in winning its first game of the Eredivisie season. Coach John van den Brom’s team played a 1-1 draw at VVV-Venlo, thanks to goals by Guus Hupperts and Sean Klaiber. Eljero Elia made his official comeback on the Dutch pitches ten minutes before the end, when he entered the lines as a substitute.

FC Utrecht saw its first league game with AZ postponed last week, because the Alkmaarders had to compete in the preliminary round of the Champions League against Dynamo Kiev last Tuesday. VVV opened its Eredivisie season a week ago with a 3-5 victory over FC Emmen and got off to an excellent start in De Koel, as there was a lead on the scoreboard within eight minutes. Hupperts was released at the first post and managed to outsmart FC Utrecht goalkeeper Maarten Paes in the short corner.

Within half an hour the home side could have doubled the margin, but Adam Maher took a bet from Lukas Schmitz off the line. In the end of the first half FC Utrecht got a bit better, which resulted in opportunities for Tommy St. Jago, Bart Ramselaar and Gyrano Kerk. VVV, however, managed to hold on to the lead until halftime and quickly got a big chance to expand the margin in the second half. Vito van Crooij found Hupperts, who saw Paes prevent his second hit of the evening.

After an hour of play FC Utrecht managed to reach the same level, thanks to a hit by Sean Klaiber. The Domstadelingen became stronger and through Mimoun Mahi and Joris van Overeem were able to get a lead, but partly thanks to VVV goalkeeper Thorsten Kirschbaum the tie remained on the scoreboard. Van den Brom brought Elia inside the lines ten minutes ahead of time, making his official comeback on the Dutch fields. An exciting final phase did not ultimately result in a winner for the match in Limburg.