FC Utrecht easily reached the third preliminary round of the Europa League on Thursday. The Domstedelingen were too strong for Sheriff Tiraspol with 4-1, after they had already won the first leg in Moldova 1-3 last week.
Victor Jensen opened the scoring for FC Utrecht after almost half an hour. Shortly after the break, Siebe Horemans doubled the lead and ten minutes later Nick Viergever made it 3-0.
Elijah Odede then did something back on behalf of Sheriff. Souffian El Karouani provided the highlight of the evening in the final phase with a beautiful long-distance shot.
FC Utrecht will face Servette FC in the third preliminary round. The Swiss lost to Viktoria Plzen from the Czech Republic in the second preliminary round of the Champions League on Wednesday (3-2 over two matches).
FC Utrecht will first visit Servette next Thursday. The return will follow a week later in De Galgenwaard. If FC Utrecht also wins the double encounter with Servette, it must survive another preliminary round to reach the main tournament of the Europa League.
FC Utrecht scores twice again from corner
In the sold-out Galgenwaard, FC Utrecht went hunting for a goal from the first whistle. Yoann Cathline created the first danger after almost fifteen minutes, but it took 28 minutes for the opening goal to fall. Jensen was served from the right by Horemans and shot into the right corner.
FC Utrecht continued to push, but no more goals were scored before half-time. After the break it was hit within a minute. Horemans headed in from a corner from El Karouani. In the first leg, the Domstedelingen also scored twice from a corner from El Karouani.
Ten minutes after the 2-0, Viergever provided the third goal for FC Utrecht. Horemans was again involved in the goal. This time the Belgian headed through a corner, after which Viergever worked the ball into the empty goal from close range.
FC Utrecht then had chances for a fourth goal, but the 3-1 fell fifteen minutes before time. Substitute Odede took advantage of a mistake by El Karouani. Horemans hit the crossbar a little later, after which El Karouani made up for his mistake just before time. He shot the ball from a great distance into the right corner and set the final score at 4-1.