FC Utrecht have scored their first away victory of the season. A goal by Sébastien Haller in injury time let Utrecht overcome the home side in the King Willem II Stadium.

‘It’s going to come,’  thought the optimists in the away section in Tilburg. ‘The goal is going to come.’ ‘ Tonight’s not our night,’ muttered the slightly less optimistic supporters. ‘We’re not going to make the most of our superior play.’

Patience is a virtue
Well, the optimists were right. The goal fell in injury time. Thank to the persistence of Sébastien Haller. The Frenchman beat the Greek goalkeeper Kostas Lamprey to score the winning goal. The keeper came out, Haller came in more quickly. Easy peasy. Utrecht’s unmatched superiority paid off. Patience really was a virtue.

Highlight
The Frenchman’s goal was without doubt the highlight of the evening; it meant Willem II were left with empty hands and gave Utrecht three points to take back home with them. The second most important event of the evening was probably the red card shown to Willem II’s top scorer, Fran Sol after 30 minutes.

Exit Sol
Sol kicked Nacer Barazite and referee Reinold Wiedemeijer rightly produced a red card for the Spaniard, who has scored five of Willem II’s seven goals this season. And that turned the game. Willem II played deeper and FC Utrecht took the initiative.

Scoring, cheering and leaving
It was all FC Utrecht on Goirleseweg in Tilburg: at the front, in midfield and at the back. Trainer/coach Erik ten Hag’s team constantly had possession and were searching for a crack on  the Tilburg defense. Utrecht prodded, teased, pulled, pushed and eventually found an opening. And then the team pounced. Haller scored, the fans cheered and FC Utrecht went home with three vital points.

Cup football in the Galgenwaard this Wednesday
FC Utrecht’s next challenge comes on Wednesday evening when FC Groningen are the guests in the Galgenwaard. The next round in the KNVB cup is at stake. The match begins at 20.00 and tickets are available via the internet and in the FC Utrecht fan shop.

Willem II - FC Utrecht 0-1 (0-0)
90+1. Sébastien Haller 0-1

Yellow cards: Dries Wuytens, (Willem II), Rico Strieder, Giovanni Troupée, Robin van der Meer (FC Utrecht).

Red card: 31. Fran Sol (Willem II).

Referee: Reinold Wiedemeijer.

Attendance: 11,410.

Willem II line-up:
Kostas Lamprou; Freek Heerkens, Dries Wuytens, Daryl Lachman, Derrick Katuku Tshimanga; Anouar Kali, Erik Falkenburg (46. Dico Koppers), Funso Ojo; Jordy Croux, Fran Sol, Asumah Abubakar (71. Bartholomew Ogbeche).

FC Utrecht line-up:
Robbin Ruiter; Giovanni Troupée, Mark van der Maarel (79. Sean Klaiber), Willem Janssen, Robin van der Meer; Rico Strieder, Sofyan Amrabat (68. Patrick Joosten), Yassin Ayoub, Nacer Barazite; Richairo Zivkovic, Sébastien Haller.