FC Utrecht Earns First UEFA Europa League Point with 1–1 Draw Against FC Porto
FC Utrecht secured its first point in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, drawing 1-1 at home against FC Porto. Miguel Rodriguez opened the scoring for Utrecht at the Galgenwaard Stadium, before Borja Sainz equalized for the Portuguese side.
Team Lineups and Changes
Utrecht manager Ron Jans included David Min and Derry John Murkin in the starting lineup. Both players had been on the bench during the 1-0 victory over NEC Nijmegen on Sunday. They replaced Sebastien Haller and Adrian Blake for this match.
Match Highlights
- In the 12th minute, FC Porto created their first major chance when Gabriel Veiga’s shot narrowly missed the target following quick team play.
- Shortly after, Borja Sainz dribbled past Utrecht keeper Vasilias Barkas, who had left his goal, but chose to pass instead of shooting at the open net.
- Porto, managed by former Ajax coach Francesco Farioli, dominated possession but often overcomplicated scoring opportunities.
- A notable missed chance came just before halftime when Stephen Eustaqio tried to dribble past a defender instead of taking a shot, resulting in a deflected ball saved by Barkas.
Second Half
Utrecht started the second half strongly, maintaining pressure and seeking to capitalize on their opportunities.
“Porto was dominating the game but was guilty of trying to pass the ball into the net on several occasions.”
Author's summary: FC Utrecht earned a valuable UEFA Europa League point through determined play and taking advantage of FC Porto's missed chances in a 1-1 draw.