Debutant Dost helps FC Utrecht with two goals at RKC Waalwijk | NOW

FC Utrecht escaped defeat on Saturday thanks to Bas Dost in the first league match of the season. The debuting striker scored twice in the second half against RKC Waalwijk: 2-2. Excelsior crowned the return at the highest level with a victory over SC Cambuur: 0-2.

In the first competition match under coach Henk Fraser, FC Utrecht did not show its best side, especially before half-time. RKC took the lead after fifteen minutes via Dario van den Buijs, who scored from a corner. Iliass Bel Hassani made it 2-0 just before half-time with a hard shot that ended up in the far corner via the post.

Just after Michiel Kramer had missed a great chance to make it 3-0 in the second half, FC Utrecht came back into the game via Dost. The striker, who came in at half time, came over on a free transfer from Club Brugge this summer, tapped into the rebound after goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen failed to capture a shot from Othmane Boussaid.

RKC then held out for a long time, but capitulated five minutes before the end. Luuk Brouwers found Dost’s head and he simply hit the mark. The striker was immediately worth gold for FC Utrecht upon his return to the Eredivisie.

It is the first time in a long time that Dost will play in the Eredivisie again. The eighteen-time international left sc Heerenveen in 2012 for VfL Wolfsburg and has since worn the shirt of Sporting CP, Eintracht Frankfurt and Club Brugge before returning to the Netherlands this summer.

Not only substitute Dost made his league debut for FC Utrecht in Waalwijk. Summer reinforcements such as Vasilios Barkas, Nick Viergever, Daishawn Redan, Modibo Sagnan and Taylor Booth were at the kick-off.

Excelsior crowns return in Eredivisie with victory

Earlier on Saturday, Excelsior started the season well by beating Cambuur. Marouan Azarkan scored the opening goal in the tenth minute thanks to a well-executed counter, after a corner. The attacker finished in a one-two with Couhaib Driouech.

Cambuur also conceded the second goal just before half-time. Julian Baas got the ball in front of his feet with some luck and was able to tap in. The home team still had good chances to score after the break, but Roberts Uldrikis and Mees Hoedemakers, among others, failed to do so from close by.

In the second half, Yassin Ayoub made his comeback in the Eredivisie. The former FC Utrecht and Feyenoord player, who signed a two-year contract with Excelsior at the end of July, came on for Kenzo Goudmijn in the 67th minute.

It is the first time since the 2018/2019 season that Excelsior plays in the Eredivisie. The team of coach Marinus Dijkhuizen forced promotion to the highest level last season by beating ADO Den Haag in a spectacular final of the play-offs.