FC Utrecht took all three points this evening (Friday). Head trainer Dick Advocaat’s team were too strong for NAC Breda, winning 2-1. An exciting match in a noisy Galgenwaard had a deserved winner.

What could be better than scoring your first goal in the Eredivisie for FC Utrecht? Well, scoring your first and your second in the same match! That’s what Simon Gustafson did against NAC Breda. The Swede scored just before half time and shortly after the break to decide the game.

Beauty
The second was a beauty. A scorcher that Nieuwegein-born NAC keeper Benjamin van Leer couldn’t keep out. All he could do was pick the ball out of the net while Utrecht celebrated. On the pitch and in the stands the feeling grew: that second goal had sown up the game.

Ice cold
Typical Scandinavian? Who knows? Gustafson in any event remained ice cold when he lined up to take a penalty in the final seconds of the first half. Referee Björn Kuipers placed the ball on the spot and on the advice of video ref Rob Dieperink, had a look at the replay. Gustafson waited patiently. Kuipers looked, judged and made up his mind: he’d blown for a penalty and a penalty it was. Gustafson finished off the job with a neatly placed shot in the fifth minute of added time. The half-time tea tasted a lot better than if the score had still been 0-0. At least if you were on the Utrecht team.

Hard work and sweat to celebrate victory
That goal in the dying seconds of the first half meant NAC Breda’s tea was a lot less enjoyable. And just after the break came the bitter pill of a second Utrecht goal. Under ex-Utrecht player Mitchell van der Gaag, NAC looked down and out as they were battered by one Utrecht attack after another but they kept the damage to two goals. When Mikhail Rosheuvel pulled one back halfway through the second half, it immediately became more exciting. NAC smelt blood and fought for all they were worth. But it didn’t help. Utrecht worked hard and celebrated the victory. Three points in the bag!

International break
There’s no Eredivisie football next weekend as club games make way for international fixtures. FC Utrecht’s next league game is on Saturday 20 October when AZ will be the opponents in the Galgenwaard. Tickets for the match against the North Hollanders are on sale now.

FC Utrecht - NAC Breda 2-1 (1-0)
45+5. Simon Gustafson (penalty) 1-0
49. Simon Gustafson 2-0
65. Mikhail Rosheuvel 2-1

Yellow cards: Menno Koch, Gianluca Nijholt (NAC Breda).

Attendance: 17,386.

Referee: Björn Kuipers.

FC Utrecht line-up:
David Jensen; Sean Klaiber, Timo Letschert, Willem Janssen, Leon Guwara; Joris van Overeem, Simon Gustafson (80. Lukas Görtler), Nicolas Gavory; Gyrano Kerk, Sander van de Streek, Urby Emanuelson (81. Oussama Tannane).

NAC Breda line-up:
Benjamin van Leer; Fabian Sporkslede, Menno Koch, Karol Mets (90. Sydney van Hooijdonk), Jurich Carolina; Gianluca Nijholt, Robert Mühren (17. Luka Ilic), Anouar Kali; Mikhail Rosheuvel, Mitchell te Vrede, Gervane Kastaneer (46. Mounir el Allouchi).