LIVE premier league | Excelsior swirls against FC Utrecht: Naujoks second goals disallowed for offside | Sport

The 2-0 is more up in the air than the 1-1. Noah Naujoks crosses half the field, slaloms through the FC Utrecht defense, is stopped and Derensili Sanches Fernandes picks up and curls past.

FC Utrecht cannot get a grip Noah NaujoksExcelsior’s club top scorer and once again the most dangerous man on the home team. He heads Arthur Zagré’s cross wide.

Excelsior swirls in its own stadium, supported by a sold-out house. Noah Naujoks doubles the lead after beautiful combination play and a measured cross from Arthur Zagrébut he is offside. The flag goes up, they draw the lines in the VAR center in Zeist. After a minute or two the verdict comes: offside. FC Utrecht escapes, it remains 1-0.

An excellent start by Excelsior, who brutally takes the lead against FC Utrecht, who just misses a chance through Angel Alarcon thanks to an excellent save from Stijn van Gassel. Noah Naujoks causes a party in Kralingen, after he missed the mark in the opening phase. He is faster than Soufian El Karouani and taps in after an assist from Derensili Sanches Fernandes.

FC Utrecht breathes a sigh of relief Noah Naujoks can only go to Vasilios Barkas after an excellent through ball from Derensili Sanches Fernandes. Excelsior’s club top scorer slides just wide. Home team close to 1-0.

The most threat in the opening phase comes from FC Utrecht, but Yoann Cathline’s crosses are not arriving yet. Now a dismissal. Throw-in for Excelsior, FC Utrecht tries to put pressure on it during phases. But Ruben den Uil’s team has been warned, the previous meeting in De Galgenwaard ended 4-1.

FC Utrecht does not have Sébastien Haller, the striker who scored in the practice match against FC Volendam last week, is missing due to an injury. This also applies to Miguel Rodrìguez, Nick Viergever and Viktor Jensen.

He played all competition matches at FC Utrecht, is the club’s top scorer in the Premier League and scored in the last three matches. Gjivai Zekiel is in top form, after a remarkable season. Read more here.

One is chasing European football, the other is trying to avoid relegation. FC Utrecht lost only one match in the last nine matches, Excelsior only won once. The earlier meeting in Galgenwaard? That feels like years ago.

For many football fans, the early kick-off of 12.15 pm is low on the list of favorites. However, it is really tough for lawn masters Dick and Marinus Groenenboom. While most supporters turn around again on Sunday, they stand in the cold and dark on the Excelsior field to prepare the mat for the match. Read the story here.

The season is not over yet for FC Utrecht either. The team of outgoing coach Ron Jans is currently in eighth place and that is enough for the European play-offs for now, but there are still four rounds to go and Jans saying goodbye with a European ticket? It couldn’t be much nicer.

There must have been swearing in Kralingen last Wednesday. Telstar won 4-1 against a dramatic Sparta, causing Excelsior to drop to sixteenth place. For the time being, that means play-offs against relegation. But with a win, the club will obviously do good business and Ruben den Uil’s team will climb over Telstar. Enough to play for.

Good morning and welcome to this live blog of round 31 in the VriendenLoterij Eredivisie. Excelsior receives FC Utrecht for the lunch match and the interests for both teams are high in Kralingen. Kick-off: 12.15 pm.