FC Utrecht scored their first three-pointer of the new season. This afternoon (Sunday) head-coach Jean Paul de Jong’s team caught PEC Zwolle with their trousers down in an atmospheric Stadium Galgenwaard. Thanks to goals scored by Joris van Overeem and Sean Klaiber the final score was 2-0 for the Utrechters, who played with ten in the last quarter hour of the game.

It was not the first time that it happened in Stadium Galgenwaard, but it was definitely the first time that it happened in an Eredivisie match: interference by the video referee. An important decision was made twice by the video referee from Zeist, where the video referees are stationed. First a Sander van de Streek goal was disallowed because of off-side. And later, halfway through the second half, a yellow card for Joris van Overeem was converted into a red card.

Joris van Overeem scores
With ten players FC Utrecht needed to get the job done against PEC Zwolle. A fortunate benefit: the Domstad Utrecht players were already leading against the players from Zwolle by 2-0. Halfway through the first half it was Joris van Overeem who managed to work the ball across the goal line after a nice combination between Simon Gustafson and Sean Klaiber and a cross by the latter: 1-0.

Again a leading role for Sean Klaiber
Just before the break the Utrecht margin was doubled. And again Klaiber was one of the main actors. This time the right back from Nieuwegein received the ball from Gustafson and rifled it into goal, calm and with precision: 2-0.

Debutant Maarten Paes keeps a clean sheet
After the break the FC Utrecht lead was not jeapordised at any time, not even when the team had to continue with ten. PEC Zwolle managed to get close to the Utrecht goal a few times, but they did not manage to give Maarten Paes the go-by. Maarten Paes? Yes indeed. The goalkeeper made his debut for FC Utrecht, because David Jensen was ill and Nick Marsman was injured. Paes, aged 20 years and 97 days the youngest FC Utrecht keeper in the Eredivisie since Stefan Postma (19 years and 198 days), held his ground and was regularly applauded by the Utrecht fans.

Next week home match against VVV-Venlo
Next week FC Utrecht will play another home match. On Sunday 26 August VVV-Venlo will be the Domstad Utrecht opponent. Kick-off is at 14:30 hrs. Tickets are for sale in the FC Utrecht fanshop and through the internet.

FC Utrecht - PEC Zwolle 2-0 (2-0)
26. Joris van Overeem 1-0
44. Sean Klaiber 2-0

Yellow cards: Urby Emanuelson, Sean Klaiber (FC Utrecht), Gustavo Hamer (PEC Zwolle).

Red card: 69. Joris van Overeem (FC Utrecht).

Attendance: 18,036.

Referee: Martin van den Kerkhof.

Line-up FC Utrecht:
Maarten Paes; Sean Klaiber (90+1. Mark van der Maarel), Emil Bergström, Willem Janssen, Leon Guwara; Urby Emanuelson, Joris van Overeem, Nicolas Gavory, Simon Gustafson (71. Timo Letschert); Sander van de Streek, Gyrano Kerk (84. Cyriel Dessers).

Line-up PEC Zwolle:
Diederik Boer; Kingsley Ehizibue, Darryl Lachman, Dirk Marcellis (46. Sepp van den Berg), Bram van Polen; Gustavo Hamer, Clint Leemans, Zian Flemming (61. Denis Genreau); Younes Namli (81. Stanley Elbers), Mike van Duinen, Vito van Crooij.