FC Utrecht managed to take three points home in a historic manner. After being down 2-0 at half-time the Utrecht players left the FC Groningen pitch as winners after over 90 minutes of football: 2-3.

The FC Utrecht fanzone shook the foundations of the Noordlease Stadium. The 233 FC Utrecht fans who had travelled to Groningen went crazy after 81 minutes of football in Groningen. Yassin Ayoub danced before Sergio Padt and the keeper did not have a chance against the subtle tap against the ball. That meant 2-3 and was the final score - as it appeared ten minutes later. That meant three points, party time and a historic comeback.

In the footsteps of the 1994 team
It was 28 August 1994, in the away match against NEC, when FC Utrecht won an away match in which they were losing 2-0 at some point. Jeffrey Kooistra and Carlos van Wanrooij had taken care of the running score at the time, and two goals by Edwin Gorter and a goal by Ab Plugboer reversed the score: 2-3.

Linssen made things complicated for FC Utrecht
Tonight Bryan Linssen was the instant menace for the Utrecht players, who could do little against a simply stronger FC Groningen. In the first stage Linssen took care of the 1-0 and during the final stage of the first half the 2-0 score, which meant that FC Utrecht would be facing an immensely difficult job.

Haller set the contours of a comeback
That job was taken care of. That job was taken care of because they accepted that job, held their heads up high and created many chances with an optimal performance. From a Yassin Ayoub corner it was Sébastien Haller who headed the ball into goal and set the contours of a great comeback: 2-1.

Troupée struck rock hard
Giovanni Troupée, who performed as an offensive wingback  was the one who rebalanced the match. He did that with such a rock hard shot and it was such a beauty: wow. He put everything he had into the ball. The keeper, didn’t have a hope against the strike by the product of FC Utrecht’s youth system : 2-2 with ten minutes still on the clock.

Win!
Three minutes later the tremendous feat by FC Utrecht was complete. Ayoub was the one who scored and decided a match with 42 (!)  shots on goal to the benefit of FC Utrecht. FC Utrecht again took three points and know for sure that next weekend they will start as number four against ADO Den Haag in a home match.

FC Groningen - FC Utrecht 2-3 (2-0)
4. Bryan Linssen 1-0
45. Bryan Linssen 2-0
54. Sébastien Haller 2-1
79. Giovanni Troupée 2-2
82. Yassin Ayoub 2-3

Yellow cards: Kasper Larsen, Ruben Jenssen, Jason Davidson, Oussama Idrissi (FC Groningen), Gyrano Kerk (FC Utrecht).

Attendance: 21,458.

Referee: Danny Makkelie.

Line-up FC Groningen:
Sergio Padt; Etiënne Reijnen, Kasper Larsen, Samir Memisevic, Jason Davidson; Ruben Jenssen, Tom Hiariej (84. Yoëll van Nieff), Simon Tibbling; Oussama Idrissi, Mimoun Mahi, Bryan Linssen (80. Alexander Sørloth).

Line-up FC Utrecht:
David Jensen; Giovanni Troupée, Mark van der Maarel (46. Wout Brama), Willem Janssen, Robin van der Meer; Ramon Leeuwin, Sofyan Amrabat, Yassin Ayoub, Nacer Barazite (68. Zakaria Labyad); Gyrano Kerk (87. Richairo Zivkovic), Sébastien Haller.