Barely 14 hours after the 1-2 victory in the AFAS Stadium in Alkmaar, the selection of Head Coach Ron Jans is back on the training field in Overvecht. One half for a follow-up training, the other half for a practice match against Heracles Almelo, which defeated SC Heerenveen 2-1 this Eredivisie weekend.
Early goals conceded
The Almelo team has the better of the game in the opening phase and within fifteen minutes the Utrecht team is 0-2 behind. Giandro Sambo hits the target after a cross from Jizz Hornkamp and Thomas Bruns doubles the margin moments later. Anthony Descotte gets the chance to score the tying goal after just under twenty minutes. After Taylor Booth is knocked down in the sixteen-meter area, Robin Mantel manages to save Descotte’s penalty, leaving the score 0-2.
Chances for both teams
In the remainder of the first half, both teams have opportunities to score. Descotte is dangerous on behalf of FC Utrecht and Hornkamp on behalf of Heracles Almelo. In addition, it is mainly standard situations that pose a threat to the Heracles Almelo goal, but this does not lead to goals.
Unofficial debut
In the second half, Head Coach Ron Jans makes some changes. For example, Tom de Graaff is behind the bar in the second act and Jaygo van Ommeren, Per Kloosterboer and Noa Dundas make their unofficial debut in the first team. Lynden Edhart, Rafik El Arguioui and Noah Ohio also played minutes in the practice match at a soaking wet FC Utrecht Topsportcentrum, where Jordy Bruijn expanded the score halfway through the second half with a nice free kick: 0-3. Sambo, already responsible for the 0-1, gets another chance to score the 0-4 moments later, but De Graaff stands his ground.
Resilience
Towards the end of the match, the Utrecht players increasingly threaten the Overijssel team’s goal. Through Miguel Rodríguez and Noah Ohio, FC Utrecht shakes Heracles Almelo, but an equalizer is no longer possible. 2-3 is the final score. On Saturday, FC Utrecht will play against RKC Waalwijk in Stadion Galgenwaard. Then the kick-off will be at 9 p.m.
FC Utrecht – Heracles Almelo 2-3 (0-2)
7. Giandro Sambo 0-1
15. Thomas Bruns 0-2
66. Jordy Bruijn 0-3
74. Miguel Rodríguez 1-3
78. Noah Ohio 2-3
Referee: Nurretin Eren.
Spectators: 0.
FC Utrecht line-up:
Michael Brouwer (46. Tom de Graaff); Massien Ghaddari, Matisse Didden, Joshua Mukeh (69. Per Kloosterboer), Kolbeinn Finnsson; Can Bozdogan (46. Rafik El Arguioui), Victor Jensen (46. Paxten Aaronson, 69. Noa Dundas), Taylor Booth (56. Jaygo van Ommeren); Miguel Rodriguez, Anthony Descotte (60. Noah Ohio), Adrian Blake (69. Lynden Edhart).
Heracles Almelo line-up:
Robin Mantel; Jannes Wieckhoff, Jordy Bruijn, Jizz Hornkamp, Thomas Bruns, Kelvin Leerdam, Justin Hoogma, Lorenzo Milani, Juho Talvitie, Giandro Sambo, Morris de Wilde.
