Saturday, August 21, 2021 at 10:53 PM• Mart Oude Nijeweeme • Last update: 23:01

In a disappointing game, FC Groningen and FC Utrecht shared the points on Saturday evening. The team of coach Danny Buijs had the better of the game, but was unable to convert this into goals: 0-0. The fact that the game ended undecided did not come as a complete surprise, as only one team emerged as the winner in one of the last six mutual encounters in the Eredivisie. Mike van der Hoorn was in the selection for the first time since his return to Utrecht, but was placed on the bench by trainer René Hake. He made his comeback five minutes before the end.

Van der Hoorn sealed his return to Utrecht this week, but had to see how Hake held on to the central duo Willem Janssen and Mark van der Maarel against Groningen. The latter took the second goal against Sparta Rotterdam (4-0 win) last week. From the bench, Van der Hoorn saw how Groningen had the better of the game in the initial phase. After ten minutes of play, the audience in the Euroborg stadium jumped for the first time, when a spiraling free kick was headed just wide of the own goal by Hidde ter Avest. Wessel Dammers’ shot was blocked from the ensuing corner.

Groningen looked fresh in the first half and seemed to take the lead after twenty minutes of play, were it not for the fact that Buijs’s team had failed to convert a promising situation into a goal until then. Both Cyril Ngonge and Ahmed El Messaoudi saw a bet turned from close range. Utrecht could thank Maarten Paes for not going into halftime behind. After a nice attack by Groningen, the goalkeeper had a great save to save his team from falling behind. The shot leading up to Ngonge’s save was just as fine.

While the duel before half-time was still characterized by a number of moments of excitement, this was hardly an issue in the second company. Both teams struggled to break through each other’s defense. Michael de Leeuw came just short on a cross from Mohamed El Hankouri and a shot from a visibly frustrated Tomás Suslov ended up wide. Substitute Jörgen Strand Larsen couldn’t change that game image either. A sparse highlight was the return of Mike van der Hoorn, who was brought in by Hake five minutes before time and thus made his comeback on behalf of the Domstedelingen.