FC Utrecht took a point from a sizzling match against Feyenoord this evening (Wednesday). Like last Friday against AZ, trainer/coach Jean-Paul de Jong’s team fell behind but then rallied and showed their mettle to draw 1-1.

For a moment, Gyrano Kerk must have thought he was the Italian skiing legend Alberto Tomba. The Utrecht striker slalomed left and right and left again at full speed, frighteningly fast. The Feyenoord defenders were the gates, the goal line was the finish for the Super-G. Kerk rushed past Sven van Beek, Jeremiah St. Juste and Renato Tapia and crowned his Tomba impersonation by placing the ball coolly behind keeper Brad Jones. The striker pulled one back to level the score at 1-1 five minutes before half time.

Never say die
The equaliser was more than deserved. Utrecht were playing at home on a pitch that was looking the worse for wear thanks to the snowfall before the winter break. And they were certainly a match for Feyenoord. Trainer/coach Jean-Paul de Jong’s team fought for every ball and pressed the Rotterdammers hard. Feyenoord never seem at ease in the Galgenwaard.

Not to their liking
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Feyenoord actually only seemed to enjoy the game for about 18 minutes. Between the 23rd and the 40th minute they were in the lead thanks to a Sam Larsson goal. The Swede shot the ball past keeper David Jensen from about 20 metres (1-0).

Bark or bite
Larsson’s goal triggered a Utrecht revival that quickly proved successful. The goal by Kerk in turn heralded a new beginning: the hunt for a winner. Utrecht had many chances to take the lead but their finishing was too nonchalant to force a second goal. They barked at Feyenoord’s keeper but they didn’t bite, or at least not viciously enough.

Sunday: Ajax at home
Following the clash against AZ on Friday and the rearranged fixture against Feyenoord this evening, De Jong’s team are already preparing for their next match. Ajax will be visiting the Galgenwaard on Sunday Tickets will be on sale until Saturday and are going fast.

FC Utrecht - Feyenoord 1-1 (1-1)
23. Sam Larsson 0-1
41. Gyrano Kerk 1-1

Yellow cards: Tyrell Malacia, Jeremiah St. Juste (Feyenoord).

Attendance: 22,111.

Referee: Kevin Blom.

FC Utrecht line-up:
David Jensen; Mark van der Maarel, Ramon Leeuwin, Willem Janssen, Robin van der Meer (33. Giovanni Troupée); Rico Strieder, Sean Klaiber, Yassin Ayoub, Sander van de Streek (63. Cyriel Dessers); Gyrano Kerk, Zakaria Labyad (86. Lukas Görtler).

Feyenoord line-up:
Brad Jones; Jeremiah St. Juste, Sven van Beek, Renato Tapia (60. Kevin Diks), Tyrell Malacia; Karim El Ahmadi, Sofyan Amrabat, Tonny Vilhena; Steven Berghuis (71. Jean-Paul Boëtius), Dylan Vente (81. Robin van Persie), Sam Larsson.