The entire first half, both teams were able to compete with each other easily. The game flowed back and forth and there were not really many chances to be noted. But then, just before half-time, a deep ball from the back fell behind the Utrecht defence. Striker Yoël van den Ban could easily receive, control and finish. Goalkeeper Justin Eversen was still on it, but had to concede a goal: 0-1. A very unfortunate moment to concede a goal. Shortly after the restart, referee De Vink blew the whistle for half-time.
Back in the dressing room, coach Kevin van Veen’s analysis was very clear: “AZ U19’s goal came out of nowhere. We played a good first half. No panic now and just continue on the path we’ve taken.” And so it happened.
The second half had not even been underway for five minutes when the equalizer was in. The man responsible for this was Shedrach Ebite: 1-1. But the Utrecht team could not enjoy the equal score for long, because five minutes later the defense had no answer to a deep ball that was headed in at the far post by Wassim Bouziane (1-2). That did not look good from Utrecht’s side. And it got even worse, because a little later it was Torben Bos who outwitted his own goalkeeper and scored the 1-3.
Coach Van Veen had seen enough and substituted four players at once, providing the team with fresh energy. And that worked out well. Because with the energy that the substitutes brought, the home team got wings, which resulted in the connecting goal by Viggo Plantinga: 2-3. And it got even better because ten minutes before the end the home team came alongside. This goal was achieved by substitutes Amir Saleh and Kelechi Idegwu, with the latter putting the final score on the board: 3-3.
A draw, and given the course of the match, a fair result. Kevin van Veen: “It would have been nice if we had taken the full spoils, but that was not possible today. I am certainly very proud of the entire team, including the substitutes, because they are responsible for the draw that we pulled out of the fire. The substitutes made the difference today. I look at it with pleasure because it will only get better.”
FC Utrecht O19 – AZ O19 3-3 (0-1)
45. Yoel van den Ban 0-1
49. Shedrach Ebite 1-1
54. Wassim Bouziane 1-2
61. Torben Bos (own goal) 1-3
75. Viggo Plantinga 2-3
78. Kelechi Idegwu 3-3
FC Utrecht U19 line-up:
Justin Eversen, Jahlani Fonteni, Brian van den Bogaard, Torben Bos (65. Giordinelo Meulens), Viggo Plantinga, Hylke van der Mast (65. Jahrnell Wijngaarde), Björn Menzo, Jaygo van Ommeren (Rayan el Miloudi), Shedrach Ebite, Jessey Sneijder (65. Kelechi Idegwu), Gustav Arcos Sundqvist (65. Amir Saleh)
Next week FC Utrecht O19 will play the away match against Sparta Rotterdam O19.
