FC players defeated the Tilburg players tonight (Saturday) 2-0.

No, this won’t go wrong anymore. Many FC Utrecht supporters had this idea whizzing around their heads for about eighty minutes. Considering the play, the 1-0 score. The feeling was: it’s going to be alright. But then again, we all know: it’s only at the end of the match when the spoils are shared. And that is how FC Utrecht – Willem II remained an exciting match until the end. Even in extra time.

Zivkovic decides the match
The ball ended up at substitute Nacer Barazite’s feet. He had a look, shot the ball and saw the ball ricochet from goal post to goal post and being returned onto the pitch. No goal. That was bad luck. Just for a moment. For half a second, not even that. Because then there was the other substitute, Richairo Zivkovic. Against his former team Willem II he was solid. He gave the ball the final push and with that the coup de grâce: 2-0 for FC Utrecht. Match decided. Winner announced.

Haller scores his fortieth
More than eighty minutes earlier the opening goal was scored. After a beautiful attack from the textbook ‘How to score a goal’ , FC Utrecht struck. Yassin Ayoub played the ball deep on the left flank, where defender Kevin Conboy took a run. The Dane gave a pass and Sébastien Haller took position before goal. Exactly there where he should be. And he did exactly what he was supposed to be doing. Foot against the ball, ball hitting the net: 1-0!

Forty, just like Tanghe
A goal with an additional touch, for Haller anyway. Because it was his fortieth Eredivisie goal for FC Utrecht. With that goal he equals the Belgian Stefaan Tanghe as the most well-aimed player in the Eredivisie ever.

Fourth
FC Utrecht remain fourth in the Eredivisie thanks to this victory. And that is not all. Because AZ – who are one place lower – drew against FC Groningen, one can say that the players from Domstad have an even firmer grip on the fourth place. Work to be done again on

Tuesday
With the match against Willem II, FC Utrecht started off a so-called English week; three matches in one week. On Tuesday there is match two of this series waiting. Then trainer/coach Erik ten Hag’s team will be playing in Rotterdam against Excelsior.

FC Utrecht - Willem II 2-0 (1-0)
10. Sébastien Haller 1-0
90+3. Richairo Zivkovic 2-0

Yellow cards: Wout Brama and Sofyan Amrabat (both FC Utrecht).

Attendance: 17,906.

Referee: Allard Lindhout.

Line-up FC Utrecht:
David Jensen; Giovanni Troupée, Ramon Leeuwin, Willem Janssen, Kevin Conboy; Wout Brama, Sofyan Amrabat, Yassin Ayoub, Zakaria Labyad (74. Richairo Zivkovic); Gyrano Kerk (57. Nacer Barazite), Sébastien Haller.

Line up Willem II:
Kostas Lamprou; Guus Joppen, Darryl Lachman, Jordens Peters, Derrick Tshimanga (58. Pele van Anholt); Funso Ojo, Thom Haye, Anouar Kali; Erik Falkenburg, Fran Sol (68. Elmo Lieftink), Jordy Croux (81. Andreias Calcan).