Opponent in the Spotlight: FC Utrecht

Opponent in the Spotlight: FC Utrecht

12/12/2014

Ajax will play at 12:30 on Sunday the home game against FC Utrecht.

Ajax and FC Utrecht so far met 95 times. Ajax won 60 of these confrontations, played a draw 16 times and lost 19 matches.

Last season Ajax won at home against FC Utrecht with 3-0. Later that season the match in Utrecht ended in 1-1.

Utrecht was the result from a merger before the start of season 1970-71 from DOS, Elinkwijk and Velox, resulting in a relatively young history between Utrecht and Ajax. However Ajax met with the 3 merger clubs earlier, DOS was from season 1938-39 onwards a frequent opponent in the First Division and later Eredivisie, in which Ajax also met Elinkwijk several times. The only official match between Velox and Ajax was a Dutch Cup game.

One of the most spectaculair matches between Ajax and Utrecht took place a few years ago. As happens more often Utrecht drew extra inspiration from their opponent, the home game against Ajax is considered the match of the season, and was able to put a good performance not withstanding their poor form. During the match Ajax made many mistakes and amongst others goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer played a part in the (6!) goals Ajax conceded, Ajax lost that match with 6-4.

On average Ajax scored over 2 goals per match against Utrecht, while Utrecht scored just under one goal per match against Ajax. The confrontations ended in 0-0 on four occassions.

Ruud Geels, with 15 goals in 9 matches, is by the most scoring Ajax player against FC Utrecht.

From the current Ajax squad no player scored more than once against FC Utrecht on behalf of Ajax.

From the current FC Utrecht squad Jeroen Verhoeven, Yassin Ayoub, Gyliano van Velzen and Anouar Kali have a history at Ajax. Ajax player Mike van der Hoorn used to play at Utrecht.

In the past amonst others the current Utrecht trainer Rob Alflen, John van Loen and Jan Wouters have played for both clubs.

Ajax is now eleven Eredivisie matches in a row unbeaten. Ajax should try to extend this serie, preferably with victories, to keep the pressure on PSV, who are 1 point ahead of Ajax with 1 game in hand.

Filed under: Ajax - Utrecht 3 - 1 (12/14/2014)