EREDIVISIE: FC Utrecht 1-0 FC Groningen |

SUNDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER 2014

FC UTRECHT 1 – 0 FC GRONINGEN

An entertaining last 30 minutes saw Ruud Boymans score for Utrecht and Tjarnon Chery miss a penalty for Groningen writes Ryan O’Grady.

In all honesty the first 60 minutes weren’t worth much of a mention. The first half looked like it was going to be entertaining when Anounar Kali had a long range effort saved in the first minute but both sides lacked a cutting edge and both were unable to create many chances either. Ed Janssen the referee didn’t help either, repeatedly giving soft free-kicks and as a result the game was very stop start, although Jarchinio Antonia of Groningen was the only player to be booked in the first half. Utrecht did have another couple of half chances, one was when Nacer Barazite brought the ball down beautifully before shifting the ball onto his left foot but the shot was very weak and easily saved. The second-half chance was when Utrecht were awarded a free-kick about halfway into Groningen’s half, the ball was put in and Chris Kum tried a reverse header but the ball came off the back his neck and went over the bar.

In the first 15 minutes of the second half almost nothing happened and if it wasn’t for Utrecht’s goal then the second half might’ve been a copy of the first. The goal came from a lofted through ball from Tommy Oar which Ruud Boymans ran onto and controlled well before putting it in between the keeper’s legs to send the home fans wild. As I have just mentioned the goal was definitely the instigator of change in terms of the pace of the game. 3 minutes later Utrecht earned a free-kick in avery dangerous position just outside the box but it was wasted by Yassin Ayoub. After this Groningen fought their way back into the game, in the 65th minute a long cross eventually fell to Antonia but he overhit his pass to Chery who was unable to control it. Only 3 minutes later however Groningen were awarded a penalty and Chery stepped up to take it but it was saved brilliantly by the keeper which seemed to take the fight out of Groningen’s fightback somewhat. Their only other chance in the game fell to Danny Hoesen but his shot was deflected into the keeper’s hands. Boymans had a late chance to double his tally and Utrecht’s lead but he put his shot just over the crossbar.

TEAMS

UTRECHT: Ruiter, Kum, Leeuwin (Heerings 73), Markiet, Van der Maarel (Cortie 83), Janssen, Kali, Ayoub, Peterson (Boymans 55), Barazite, Oar.

SUBS NOT USED: Verhoeven, Diemers, Quesada, Rubin.

GOALS: Boymans 61.

BOOKINGS: Oar 59, Van der Maarel 81.

GRONINGEN: Padt, Botteghin, Kappelhof, Van der Velden (Bos 66), Hiariej (Hateboer 85), Chery, Kieftenbeld, De Leeuw (Islamovic 76), Van Nieff, Hoesen, Antonia.

SUBS NOT USED: Van der Vlag, Hagenauw, Saban, Baas.

GOALS: None.

BOOKINGS: Antonia 31.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Robbin Ruiter (FC Utrecht)