SUNDAY 24TH AUGUST 2014
FEYENOORD 1 – 2 FC UTRECHT
Fred Rutten’s Feyenoord crashed to a 2-1 defeat to FC Utrecht this afternoon in their own backyard in a poor performance writes Will Burns.
The talk pre-game was of Jens Toornstra, FC Utrecht’s attacking midfielder and star player over the last 18 months, who has agreed a transfer to Feyenoord to be completed over the next few days. He was present at De Kuip to witness his old side meet his new team-mates.
After a tough game in Ukraine on Thursday night, Feyenoord showed no tiredness as they certainly started the game on top forcing Robbin Ruiter to make saves early on. After Mitchell te Vrede, Elvis Manu and Jordy Clasie tested the goalkeeper, after relentless pressure, the hosts should have took the lead on 25 minutes. Ruiter parried a Jordy Clasie effort from outside the area into Tonny Vilhena’s path, and the midfielder tried to stab the ball home but Yassin Ayoub got back to clear the ball off the line.
On 33 minutes, young striker Te Vrede notched his third goal in three league games, showing tremendous awareness to send a looping header over Ruiter from a Clasie free-kick. Te Vrede is not seen as a replacement for Graziano Pellè by the Feyenoord fans or the staff inside the club, however, with his goal ratio, he is making a good claim for that lone striker role at De Kuip.
Before half-time, the hosts could have easily doubled their advantage. Te Vrede again causing problems with Ruiter having to make a point-blank save and Lex Immers crashing the rebound off the post. However, against the run of the play it was 1-1. Great work down the left from Tommy Oar overpowering Ruben Schaken, laid the ball off perfectly for Nacer Barazite to get his first goal for the club.
The hosts looked to take their foot off the pedal in the second half so Fred Rutten introduced Jean-Paul Boëtius and Bilal Basacikoglu to try and take the game to the visitors. However, Utrecht looked more dangerous and they took the lead on 72 minutes. Australian midfielder Oar once again involved, threading a perfect ball for eighteen year old substitute Rodney Antwi to break through on goal, power through the pitiful Sven van Beek and place a wonderful composed finish past Erwin Mulder.
A poor performance from Feyenoord who were coasting at the start of the game, however full credit to Utrecht who came back to grab three vital points.
TEAMS
FEYENOORD: Mulder, Wilkshire, Van Beek, Mathijsen (Karsdorp 80), Nelom, Clasie, Immers, Vilhena, Schaken (Basacikoglu 65), Te Vrede, Manu (Boëtius 65).
SUBS NOT USED: Hahn, Steenvoorden, Kongolo, Vormer.
GOALS: Te Vrede 33.
BOOKINGS: Clasie 36, Schaken 44.
UTRECHT: Ruiter, Van der Maarel, Markiet, Leeuwin, Kum, Janssen, Ayoub, Kali, Oar, Kallon (Antwi 58), Barazite (Diemers 80).
SUBS NOT USED: Verhoeven, Sarota, Cortie, Hardeveld, Boukhari.
GOALS: Barazite 45+1, Antwi 72.
BOOKINGS: Janssen 78, Van der Maarel 90+1.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Tommy Oar (FC Utrecht)
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