FC Utrecht vs Heerenveen Result: Utrecht Advance to Play-Off Final

Utrecht book Ajax final with win over Heerenveen  

Utrecht beat Heerenveen in a tense semifinal to book a spot in Sunday’s final, where they’ll face Ajax for a UEFA Conference League qualifying spot.

Goals from Van der Hoorn, Stepanov and El Karouani sent FC Utrecht through to the Eredivisie play-off final despite a late Heerenveen rally...

FC Utrecht advanced to Sunday’s Eredivisie play-off final after edging sc Heerenveen 3-2 in Thursday’s semifinal.

Utrecht finished sixth and Heerenveen eighth in the regular season, so both teams entered the play-offs to compete for a spot in UEFA Conference League qualifying.

The game started fast, with both sides testing the goalkeepers early. Jacob Trenskow had two chances, but Vasilis Barkas was equal to both.

4️⃣ doelpunten in 1️⃣2️⃣ minuten 🥵

46' A. Stepanov ⚽️
54' D. Vente ⚽️
56' M. van der Hoorn ⚽️
58' S. El Karouani ⚽️#utrhee pic.twitter.com/4K8d671iC7

— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) May 21, 2026

Utrecht took control for the rest of the first half and went close through Artem Stepanov. He broke the deadlock in the first minute of the second half after Bernt Klaverboer made a mistake.

Heerenveen responded well in the 56th minute when Dylan Vente chipped Barkas to level the score for the visitors.

A quick burst from the home side ended Heerenveen’s hopes of reaching the final. Mike van der Hoorn headed in a cross from Souffian El Karouani, and El Karouani made it 3-1 minutes later with a well-taken volley.

Heerenveen pushed hard for the last 30 minutes and pulled one back when El Karouani, named in Morocco’s preliminary World Cup squad earlier that day, deflected a free kick into his own net.

Naar de finale!!! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/VIeMIImMY8

— FC Utrecht (@fcutrecht) May 21, 2026

Late chances made for a nervy finish at the Galgenwaard, but Utrecht held on. They’ll face Ajax in Volendam in Sunday’s final.