Netherlands round-up: Utrecht trip up

De Graafschap gave their Eredivisie survival hopes a massive boost with a shock victory over Europe-chasing FC Utrecht that moved them off the bottom of the table.

Van der Haar winner
Before the game, few would have given Peter Bosz's side a chance against their seventh-placed visitors, who hammered SBV Vitesse 4-1 last weekend. But the hosts, who had taken just one point from their previous five matches, snatched victory with a 90th-minute goal from Hans van der Haar.

Down to ten men
The win was all the more creditable given that De Graafschap played out the final minutes of the game with ten men. They almost took the lead as early as the 17th minute, but Milan Berck Beelenkamp shot wide from close range after a Jean-Paul van Gastel free-kick found him in space.

Kuijt effort
In the 25th minute De Graafschap came close again when Jordy Zuidam's headed clearance for Utrecht fell straight into the path of Berthil ter Avest, who fired just wide. Utrecht's first chance of the game came in the 42nd minute, but it went begging, with Dirk Kuijt shooting just over from close range.

Van der Haar threat
With five minutes remaining, Berck Beelenkamp left the field with his head bleeding heavily following a clash of heads with Utrecht's Dave van den Bergh. De Graafschap had used all their substitutes so were left a man short for the rest of the game.

Priceless winner
However, they grabbed their priceless winner just 20 seconds before the final whistle when Davy Zafarin moved forward and passed the ball into the path of the oncoming Van Der Haar, who gave Harald Wapenaar no chance with his drilled shot.