The team from Drenthe took all three points in the first Eredivisie meeting ever between FC Utrecht and FC Emmen. Utrecht played more than half the game with ten men in the Galgenwaard and didn’t have the strength to hold on to their 1-0 lead. The fixture ended 2-1 to Emmen.

It looked as though nothing could go wrong. The sun was shining, the scoreboard said 1-0. It would go too far to say Utrecht were playing sparkling football but they had the game nicely under control and had chances. At the half time whistle, though, both teams headed for the dressing rooms in frustration. Onward with ten men FC Emmen, of course, were a goal down. But Utrecht were just as depressed. On the stroke of half time, interim trainer Marinus Dijkhuizen’s team counted 10 players instead of 11. Urby Emanuelson received a direct red for a midfield foul and referee Kevin Blom gave him his marching orders.

Setback soon after the break
Utrecht had to go for victory with ten men against the Eredivisie debutants. And it was hard going. The equaliser came soon after half-time. Substitute Luciano Slagveer was given enough time and space to shoot, and he made the most of it. The ball went in the far corner: 1-1.

Ten men, many chances
Ten-man Utrecht had many chances to regain the lead. Oussama Tannane was one-on-one with keeper Kjell Scherpen, Simon Makienok had a good header and captain Willem Janssen was neatly set up but headed wide.

Bijl’s beauty
The ball did go in at the other end of the pitch. And how! Glenn Bijl was the Hero of Emmen. The midfielder shot the ball precisely into the top corner. Utrecht goalkeeper David Jensen stretched as far as he could but with just 15 minutes to go couldn’t prevent the 2-1.

Anniversary goal of little value
And so Sander van der Streek’s goal in his 100th match was of little value. The Barnevelder had scored a fine goal in the 15th minute but in the end it didn’t count for much. It wasn’t Van der Streek’s day. Just before half-time he had to be substituted following a clash with the keeper. It was a sign of things to come. It wasn’t Utrecht’s day, but it was Emmen’s.

Next challenge: Feyenoord away
Utrecht’s next challenge is away at Feyenoord. The team, led by Dick Advocaat, will be travelling to the Kuip on Sunday 23 September. The next home match is on Thursday 27 September. In the first round of the KNVB Cup, MVV Maastricht are the opponents in the Galgenwaard.

FC Utrecht - FC Emmen 1-2 (1-0)
13. Sander van de Streek 1-0
51. Luciano Slagveer 1-1
78. Glenn Bijl 1-2

Yellow cards: Simon Makienok (FC Utrecht), Michael Chacon, Reuven Niemeijer, Gersom Klok, Luciano Slagveer (FC Emmen).

Red card: 45. Urby Emanuelson (FC Utrecht).

Attendance: 16,720.

Referee: Kevin Blom.

FC Utrecht line-up:
David Jensen; Sean Klaiber, Willem Janssen, Timo Letschert, Leon Guwara; Urby Emanuelson, Joris van Overeem, Nicolas Gavory, Simon Gustafson (62. Gyrano Kerk); Sander van de Streek (42. Simon Makienok), Oussama Tannane (80. Nick Venema).

FC Emmen line-up:
Kjell Scherpen; Gersom Klok, Keziah Veendorp, Nick Bakker, Caner Cavlan; Reuven Niemeijer (70. Henk Bos), Glenn Bijl, Hilal Ben Moussa (81. Jafar Arias), Michael Chacón; Nicklas Pedersen, Alexander Bannink (40. Luciano Slagveer).