Overview
- FC Utrecht won 3-1 away at NEC in Nijmegen, with goals from Ángel Alarcón (5'), Gjivai Zechiël (45') and Yoann Cathline (49'); Darko Nejasmic replied for NEC (59').
- The result snapped Utrecht’s nine-match league drought and lifted them to tenth on 27 points, four off the play-off zone, while NEC stayed third after missing the chance to go second.
- Utrecht ceded possession and struck decisively in transition; NEC coach Dick Schreuder cited errors in possession and left-side positioning for counters they failed to prevent.
- Ron Jans and his players voiced relief and caution, praising Alarcón’s top-end speed referenced at 35.1 km/h and stressing the need to build on the performance.
- Orion Stars lost the CEV Cup quarter-final first leg 1-3 to Fenerbahçe, taking the opening set before falling 25-18, 21-25, 13-25, 24-26, with the return in Istanbul next week.