Utrecht continued their climb up the table with a hard fought 2-0 victory over bottom side NEC Nijmegen to kick off round 16 of the Eredivisie.
- By Michael Bell
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Utrecht started the game well and were unlucky not to take the lead after seven minutes, when Gevero Markiet saw his header from a corner well saved by NEC keeper Johnsson.
NEC came into the game, with Michael Higdon, and Soren Rieks both missing great chances to open the scoring.
The deadlock was broken three minutes into the second half by the hosts, as Markiet headed in from close range after Edouard Duplan’s header came off the post.
On 67 minutes NEC were reduced to ten men after Ryan Koolwijk received his second yellow for a tough challenge on Duplan.
Despite being down to ten men, NEC had the perfect opportunity to equalise when they were awarded a penalty for a challenge on Jahanbakhsh. However Michael Higdon’s poor spot kick was easily saved by Robbin Ruiter.
Steve de Ridder sealed the three points for Utrecht with 15 minutes to go with an emphatic finish after being played through by Elroy Pappot.
The win moves Utrecht up to 7th in the table, and on the same number of points as fourth place Feyenoord, with only goal difference bringing them down.
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