Sunday, April 25, 2021 at 6:47 PM• Yanick Vos • Last update: 18:47

On Sunday FC Utrecht took three points on a visit to FC Twente. With the victory, Utrecht is unique, because in the previous 97 encounters, the Tukkers were never won three times in a row. The visitors turned a 1-0 deficit in the Grolsch Veste into a 1-2 victory by hits by Sander van de Streek and Gyrano Kerk. It is a new blow for Twente, which for the first time since April 2018 remains at least eight league matches in a row without a win.

In the eyes of four thousand spectators, FC Twente was faced with a difficult task; FC Utrecht was unbeaten in the last six away matches in a row and kept Ajax on a 1-1 draw last Thursday. After an entertaining opening phase, it was the home team that took the lead after half an hour of play via Danilo Pereira. Luciano Narsingh was sent into the depth on the right flank by Ramiz Zerrouki, after which the winger had a measured cross on the Brazilian striker. Danilo headed the ball behind the German goalkeeper Eric Oelschlägel: 1-0. Not much later, the visitors escaped a bigger deficit when a shot by Queensy Menig went half a meter wide. On behalf of Utrecht, Adam Maher threatened with a shot twice. Twente keeper Joël Drommel saved both times.

René Hake’s team came out strongly after the break. The attack was immediately sought and that quickly led to the equalizer. A perfect pass from Othman Boussaid was appreciated by Van de Streek. The attacking midfielder got his foot against the ball and Drommel had no chance: 1-1. The hit in minute 49 gave Utrecht the confidence in the hunt for more. Five minutes later, the visitors even took the lead via Gyrano Kerk. After an error of judgment by Tyronne Ebuehi, Kerk could only rely on Drommel’s goal. Jayden Oosterwolde came too late to keep the quick attacker from scoring. With a quick foot movement, Kerk scored in the far corner.

Twente had completely lost the thread and to make matters worse, saw the ball hit the spot after Drommel Van de Streek floored in the penalty area. Referee Kevin Blom rightly gave a penalty to FC Utrecht and a yellow card to the keeper of Twente. Van de Streek himself took his place behind the ball and failed to bring the margin to two; he shot the penalty over the goal into the stands. The match then developed into a fierce battle, with some unkindness here and there. After a serious foul by Kik Pierie on Kerk, a riot came, in which yellow cards were handed out to Willem Janssen, Pierie and Oosterwolde. The latter two dropped out injured not much later.

Time was ticking to the detriment of the home team. Many were given a number of options in the final phase to equalize the score, but the attacker did not have his sights on sharp. Supported by the public, Twente squeezed out a final offensive in the seven minutes of injury time. With a corner just before time, Drommel even went forward, but the desired success was not forthcoming. Utrecht held its own and takes home three important points in the battle for the play-offs for European football.