FC Utrecht have now taken all three points from 20 games this year. Trainer/coach Erik ten Hag’s team booked the victory in the pouring rain in De Koel. A goal by Gyrano Kerk was enough to decide the match against VVV-Venlo: 1-0.

Kerk, a name that rings like a bell, certainly in Venlo. A week or so ago the striker scored against VVV-Venlo after coming on as a substitute in a cup match. Yesterday, he was in the starting 11, shooting a through-ball from Sander van de Streek into the far corner to decide the match in Venlo.

Hero’s role
But the speedy attacker wasn’t the only person playing a hero’s role in North Limburg. Ramon Leeuwin played his part, cleared a shot by Lennart Thy from the line with an acrobatic jump. The defender prevented the equaliser. The difference, you could say, between sharing the points and taking victory. A header that was worth two points.

Streaming rain
In the streaming rain, VVV-Venlo banged on the Utrecht door for 70 minutes. But David Jensen and his defence didn’t let them in. Yes, the Venlo team could bang, it could ring, knock, look and try, but the door stayed shut. Utrecht kept a clean sheet and took the points.

And the next!
Utrecht’s next Eredivisie match is on Sunday, when Heracles Almelo will be the visitors in the Galgenwaard. The game starts at 14.30 and tickets for the final home game of 2017 are going fast.

VVV-Venlo - FC Utrecht 0-1 (0-1)
24. Gyrano Kerk 0-1

Yellow cards: Ralf Seuntjens (VVV-Venlo), Sean Klaiber, Mark van der Maarel, David Jensen (FC Utrecht).

Attendance: 5,778.

Referee: Jeroen Manschot.

VVV-Venlo line-up:
Lars Unnerstall; Moreno Rutten (62. Tristan Dekker), Nils Rӧseler, Jerold Promes, Roel Janssen (82. Leroy Labylle); Damian van Bruggen, Ralf Seuntjens, Clint Leemans; Delano van Crooij, Lennart Thy, Torino Hunte (62. Jonathan Opoku).

FC Utrecht line-up:
David Jensen; Mark van der Maarel, Ramon Leeuwin (78. Dario Dumic), Willem Janssen, Urby Emanuelson; Rico Strieder, Sean Klaiber, Yassin Ayoub, Sander van de Streek; Gyrano Kerk (82. Cyriel Dessers), Zakaria Labyad (89. Lukas Gȏrtler).