FC Utrecht 0-1 Feyenoord Player Ratings: Targhalline's Strike Helps Feyenoord See off 10-Men Utrecht

Feyenoord managed to snatch all three points as they secured a narrow 1-0 win against FC Utrecht. It was a gritty performance, far from their most fluid kind of football, which they are known for.

The decisive moment came early. Oussama Targhalline's incredible strike from outside the box in the 10th minute was all that separated the sides. It was a goal worthy of winning any game. After that, Feyenoord seemed content to manage the lead.

FC Utrecht will be kicking themselves, to be honest. They carved out several clear opportunities to equalize. However, they found Timon Wellenreuther in inspired form. The Feyenoord keeper was an absolute wall between the sticks.

Things went from bad to worse for FC Utrecht when Miguel Rodriguez saw his second yellow card and was given the marching orders in the 78th minute.

This Eredivisie clash ultimately hinged on one moment of magic and some resolute goalkeeping. It wasn’t a classic, but it was certainly a compelling watch.

Here are the FC Utrecht vs Feyenoord Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Both teams played a tight contest, where Utrecht maintained 47% possession as compared to Feyenoord’s 53%.
• Feyenoord had more shots on target; however, Utrecht had a better xG of 1.00 but failed to convert their chances.
• Oussama Targhalline’s strike in the 10th minute proved to be the only and decisive goal in the game. Miguel Rodriguez received a red card just 17 minutes after coming off the bench.

Feyenoord Player Ratings vs FC Utrecht

Have a look at the Feyenoord Player Ratings from the FC Utrecht vs Feyenoord Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Timon Wellenreuther - 8.0: Simply outstanding from the captain, and our man of the match. He made four crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet and the win. His saves from Gjivai Zechiël in the first half were top-class. What stood out to us was his command of the box, claiming high balls and punching clear under pressure. A truly match-winning performance.

Defenders

Tsuyoshi Watanabe - 7.0: A really solid and composed display before his injury. He was a rock at the back, making a massive seven clearances. His passing from the back was tidy and he rarely looked troubled. It was a shame to see him forced off after 70 minutes. He did his job exceptionally well.

Jordan Bos - 7.5: We were very impressed with Bos's all-action performance. He was a tackling machine, winning four of his five attempts. He also won seven of his nine duels, showing great strength and determination. He got forward well and was a constant outlet on the flank. A top performance.

Mats Deijl - 5.5: A difficult day for the defender. From our perspective, the error that led to a shot was a major blot on his copybook. He seemed a little off the pace and lost possession a few too many times. He just didn't look comfortable against Utrecht's attackers. One to forget for him.

Anel Ahmedhodzic - 6.5: A steady, if unspectacular, outing. His reading of the game was excellent, evidenced by his four interceptions. He was comfortable on the ball with an 87% pass accuracy. He wasn't tested too severely but did what was required of him without any fuss. A decent shift.

Midfielders

In-beom Hwang - 6.0: A bit of a mixed bag from Hwang. He worked hard and won a respectable five duels, but he was also quite wasteful in possession. Losing the ball 11 times and picking up a yellow card soured his performance slightly. We expected a little more influence from him in the middle of the park.

Luciano Valente - 6.5: He showed some nice touches and kept the ball moving with high pass accuracy. However, he also lost possession 12 times which stalled momentum. The yellow card for a cynical foul was necessary but highlighted some frustration. A fairly average performance overall.

Anis Hadj Moussa - 7.5: Feyenoord's creative spark for much of the game. He was constantly looking to make things happen, creating a big chance and delivering four key passes. His delivery from wide areas caused problems for the Utrecht defence. A very lively and positive display.

Oussama Targhalline - 8.0: Scored the all-important winner with a superb strike from distance. Beyond the goal, he was industrious and effective. He won five duels, made three interceptions, and was a real presence. The yellow card was the only minor negative on a day where he was the difference-maker.

Aymen Sliti - 6.5: A tidy performance during his time on the pitch. He kept possession well and made some intelligent runs. He didn't have a huge impact on the game's outcome but he didn't put a foot wrong either. A solid, dependable contribution before being substituted.

Forwards

Jakub Moder - 7.0: His contribution was vital, providing the assist for Targhalline's winner. He looked dangerous and got into good positions, though he will be disappointed to have missed a big chance. It was a surprise to see him taken off, as he was a key part of Feyenoord's attacking threat.

Substitutes

Sem Steijn - 6.0: Came on and had a blocked shot but didn't really get into the flow of the game.

Leo Sauer - 6.0: Brought some energy but couldn't create any clear-cut chances in his time on the field.

Jeremiah St. Juste - N/A: Came on late to replace the injured Watanabe and wasn't on long enough to receive a rating.

Manager

R. van Persie - 7.0: His team got the crucial early goal and then showed the discipline to see out the win. The game plan worked perfectly for a tough away fixture. He managed the game well, even if the performance wasn't breathtaking. A professional victory masterminded from the dugout.

FC Utrecht Player Ratings vs Feyenoord

Have a look at the FC Utrecht Player Ratings from the FC Utrecht vs Feyenoord Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Vasilios Barkas - 6.0: He couldn't do much about the goal, which was a fantastic strike. He made a couple of saves but was largely a spectator for big parts of the game. A quiet afternoon for the keeper, who was let down by his defence for the goal.

Defenders

Mike van der Hoorn - 6.5: A standard performance from the captain. He organized his defence and made six clearances. His passing was reliable, but his unit was breached for the decisive goal. A solid but ultimately fruitless effort.

Souffian El Karouani - 5.5: We noticed he was a liability in possession, giving the ball away a staggering 16 times. While he did create one big chance, his wastefulness really hurt his team's ability to build pressure. He was also caught offside. Not his finest hour.

Niklas Vesterlund - 6.0: He battled hard and made six clearances, but he struggled in the air, losing three of his four aerial duels. He looked a step behind at times and couldn't impose himself on the Feyenoord forwards. An okay performance, nothing more.

Matisse Didden - 5.5: It just wasn't his day. Being dribbled past twice and losing possession 13 times are stats that tell their own story. He seemed to struggle with the pace of the game. He made some important defensive actions but his errors were more noticeable.

Midfielders

Can Bozdogan - 6.0: He was tidy in his 45-minute spell, with good passing and one key pass. However, he was substituted at halftime, which suggests the manager wanted more impact from that position. He failed to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.

Gjivai Zechiël - 7.0: Utrecht's brightest spark by a country mile. He was a constant menace, forcing Timon Wellenreuther into three saves. He looked the most likely to make something happen for the home side. A really encouraging and energetic display.

Alonzo Engwanda - 6.0: He worked tirelessly in midfield, recovering the ball five times. However, his contribution in an attacking sense was minimal. He was solid defensively but offered little creativity or threat going forward. A functional but limited performance.

Forwards

Jesper Karlsson - 5.0: He was virtually anonymous during his hour on the pitch. With only 27 touches, he just couldn't get involved in the play. From our perspective, he looked isolated and failed to provide any sort of threat. A very disappointing outing.

Dani de Wit - 6.0: He put in a shift and battled hard, but the quality wasn't there. He was often second best in his duels and didn't create enough in the final third. A performance full of effort but lacking in end product.

Ángel Alarcón - 5.0: Played the first half but might as well have not. Only 13 touches is a shocking return for a forward. He offered no threat and was rightly hooked at halftime. A completely ineffective performance.

Substitutes

Artem Stepanov - 6.0: Came on at halftime but couldn't change the game's trajectory.

Yoann Cathline - 6.5: Looked lively and provided an assist for a saved shot, an improvement on the man he replaced.

Miguel Rodríguez - 2.0: A disastrous cameo. Came on, got a yellow card, and then got a second for diving. His sending-off killed any late momentum for his team.

Nick Viergever - N/A: Not on long enough to receive a rating.

Manager

R. Jans - 5.5: His team created chances but couldn't find a way past an inspired goalkeeper. His substitutions failed to have the desired impact, with one getting sent off foolishly. He'll be frustrated that his side came away with nothing to show for their efforts.

Man of the Match

Timon Wellenreuther was the man of the match in the FC Utrecht vs Feyenoord game.

Worst Performer

Miguel Rodríguez of FC Utrecht was the worst performer in this Eredivisie game.