Eredivisie: PEC Zwolle and FC Utrecht Share Spoils in Six-Goal Eredivisie Thriller

FC Utrecht salvaged a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw at PEC Zwolle, with Nick Viergever's late equalizer rescuing a draw for the Eredivisie title hopefuls.

FC Utrecht's struggles to secure a win continued as they dropped points for the fifth time in six league games, settling for a 3-3 draw against PEC Zwolle. Despite their third-place standing, Utrecht has been inconsistent, winning only one of their previous six Eredivisie games and losing ground to the top two teams.

PEC Zwolle, on the other hand, was riding a two-game winning streak and sought to extend their lead above the relegation zone. The home side was also aiming to achieve a rare feat – winning three consecutive league games for the first time since 2019. Utrecht's visit presented an opportunity for Zwolle to make progress toward this goal.

The match got off to an exciting start, with FC Utrecht creating the first scoring chance after 15 minutes. American international Paxten Aaronson attempted to beat PEC goalkeeper Mike Hauptmeijer with a shot aimed at the top left corner, but his effort was unsuccessful. Just three minutes later, the home side took the lead when Jamiro Monteiro delivered a sharp free-kick into the penalty area, and Dylan Vente calmly slotted the ball home.

PEC Zwolle doubled their advantage just before the break, thanks to a well-executed move. Filip Krastev's deep ball found Davy van den Berg, who expertly controlled the pass and finished with precision, giving the home side a 2-0 lead at halftime.

FC Utrecht returned from the break with renewed confidence, and their efforts nearly paid off immediately. French winger Yoann Cathline made a promising run through the PEC defense but was unable to find a teammate to finish his pass. Undeterred, Utrecht continued to push forward, and their persistence was rewarded just ten minutes into the second half.

Veerkracht! pic.twitter.com/BI08Lu3PCP

— FC Utrecht (@fcutrecht) February 1, 2025

Antony Descotte spectacularly reduced PEC's lead to one goal with a shot fired into the top left corner. The goal was made possible by a skillful backheel pass from Sebastien Haller, which set up Descotte for the impressive finish. Utrecht's momentum continued to build, and they found the equalizer just four minutes later. Oscar Fraulo capitalized on a major mistake by goalkeeper Mike Hauptmeijer, intercepting a faulty pass and calmly finishing his chance.

The match remained intense, with mistakes continuing to plague both sides. Utrecht defender Matisse Didden failed to properly clear a ball, handing Dylan Vente another scoring opportunity, which the striker did not waste. However, PEC's relief was short-lived, as they conceded another equalizer in the 83rd minute. Mike Hauptmeijer mishandled a shot from distance by Souffian El Karouani, deflecting the ball the wrong way and presenting Nick Viergever with an easy goal.

A quick VAR review confirmed the validity of Utrecht's equalizing goal, securing a hard-fought point for the visitors. Despite salvaging a draw, Utrecht's struggles to secure a win continued, with the team dropping points for the sixth time in seven Eredivisie games. The result allowed PEC Zwolle to jump to 24 points, temporarily opening a 7-point gap above the relegation zone.