FC Utrecht

NOS Voetbal•gisteren, 22:18

View the summary of sc Heerenveen – FC Utrecht

FC Utrecht has opened a gap with SC Heerenveen in the battle for a place in the European play-offs. In Friesland, the Domstedelingem won 2-3, thanks to one goal from Isac Lidberg and two from the revived Sam Lammers.

With the victory, Utrecht increased its lead over Heerenveen in the rankings to nine points. Utrecht is eighth, Heerenveen eleventh.

NOS

Utrecht coach Ron Jans rewarded the substitutions that were partly responsible for the victory over PEC Zwolle (5-1) last Wednesday. Mark van der Maarel, Oscar Fraulo, who provided two assists against PEC, and Lidberg, who scored twice, kicked off.

It was Lidberg who quickly repaid that trust in Friesland. After a corner, Van der Maarel’s volley was cleared off the line, but the rebound was for the Swede with a lot of luck. He watched in surprise as the ball caromed into the goal via his right and left legs.

Watch Sam Lammers’ response below:

Lammers accurate again: ‘I’m in good shape, the team is in good shape’

Then it was time for Lammers on his return to the Abe Lenstra Stadium. After a goal-rich season at SC Heerenveen with sixteen Premier League goals, Lammers had to make do for years. He no longer scored figures that fit a striker.

Five goals in a month, compared to five goals in two and a half years

After two league goals for PSV, two for Atalanta, one for Eintracht Frankfurt, one for Empoli, one for Sampdoria and two for Rangers in three and a half years, Lammers ended up on loan from Rangers to Utrecht in January.

Initially, despite good play, Lammers was not goal-rich in Utrecht, with one goal in his first eight games. However, the attacker was released in March. He shot in hard and high against his old club just after half-time.

ANPSam Lammers scores

This made Lammers only the second player in this century with a goal in five consecutive Eredivisie matches for Utrecht, after Dirk Kuijt in February-March 2003. Five goals in one month. And to think that Lammers only scored a total of five times abroad in the previous two and a half years.

Late eretreffers Walemark

After a stupid second yellow card for the Norwegian Oliver Braude of Heerenveen, Lammers added another goal in Heerenveen after a flashy action. He last scored twice in a Premier League match on behalf of Heerenveen more than five years ago.

Utrecht relaxed in the final phase and saw Heerenveen come close in the final minutes. Substitute Patrik Walemark scored the 1-3 and also scored the second Heerenveen goal in injury time after a mistake by Othmane Boussaid.