NEC-FC Utrecht was originally scheduled for 18, but was rescheduled due to severe weather in the Netherlands in early January.
FC Porto loanee Angel Alarcon got FC Utrecht off to a hot start after capping off a quick counterattack with a lovely lob over Gonzalo Crettaz in the fifth minute. The Spaniard hit the post later in the first half, but eventually saw team-mate Gjivai Zechiel double the visitors' lead with a calm finish in the 45th minute.
Yoann Cathline pushed FC Utrecht closer to their first win since November 9th after scoring the 3-0 in the 49th minute thanks to a brilliant Souffian El Karouani, who nutmegged Darko Nejasmic from a sheer impossible angle at the corner flag.
Nejasmic hit back for NEC shortly after, half-volleying the ball beautifully past Vasilis Barkas 10 minutes after Cathline's goal.
Instead of NEC's edging closer to the 3-2, FC Utrecht nearly restored their three-goal lead when Angel Alarcon hit the woodwork for the second time.
Neither side would find the net again, however, earning FC Utrecht their first league win in three months. Their win cost NEC the opportunity to move up into second place, and means league leaders PSV are now officially 17 points clear of the pack.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ángel Alarcón (FC Utrecht)
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