If Utrecht can hold, PA's goal is a big one, as Utrecht and AZ are currently the best of the "also rans" so far this season.
ESPN And no sooner do I write that than AZ breaks through 2-2 in added time. Wait - called back!! Nevermind. Very close OS goes Utrecht's way.
And Utrecht see it out. 2-1 win. I think this bumps them to 2nd for the moment - and they've only played 6 this season, I think? Or at least tied on points with AZ. AZ looked better, tbh, but was unlucky/poor in front of the goal. Pax played well. I didn't notice Booth much, but he did have the final Utrecht touch of the game.
This seems to already be the de facto Utrecht pbp thread, so maybe rename it? Utrecht 24/25 - Paxten Aaronson / Taylor Booth pbp thread @bungadiri @TheFalseNine @dark knight Both Paxten and Taylor starting today against Feyenoord. ESPN+ showing the match.
Feyenoord go up 1-0 early after a fortunate bounce - deflection of a shot - falls to them wide open on the left and a perfect pass across the six is finished home by Caranza, who anticipates it when no one on the defense does.
Not a great first half - Feyenoord with a deserved lead, dominating possession and the physical battle against the Yanks. Aaronson picked it up some late in the half with a shot and an good ball to the far post that could have been an assist with a great header, but they didn't get that.
Utrecht starting the second half better, but Aaronson just over hit a through ball that if properly weighted would have given Booth a look at a one touch far post shot. Disappointing. And now Feyenoord take advantage of Utrecht being more opened up and Timbers scores from long distance. Utrecht fans boo their undefeated club and/or the goal by the former Utrecht player and childhood Utrecht resident.
Only started watching at the 60th minute so maybe they were all just really tired but honestly shocked at how poor Utrecht looked. Loose touches from everyone and just aimless passes when they won the ball back. It’s no wonder PSV has dominated the league over the last the last year+. In the last minutes of the game Aaronson went on a decent run but then let the ball completely get away from him and then committed an obvious yellow card tackle a minute later.
You're being too harsh on FC Utrecht/FC Utrecht Yanks. The Spanish paper Marca called Feyenoord, after the match in Lissabon against Benfica reliving the Slot-time (= Marca called Feyenoord under Slot a war-machine) when they ended the undefeated track of Benfica.
Paxten gets the start against Ajax, trailing 2-1 after just 30 minutes. Playing a double pivot in a 4-2-3-1. No Taylor Booth in the squad.
Paxten attempts a high speed 1 v 3 and winds up committing a foul. Looked cool for a few seconds, though.
Paxten starts against Almere, Taylor Booth on the bench. After Ajax lost, a chance to reclaim second place over a relegation struggler.
Iqbal with a great long shot from 25 yards to the far post for 2-0. They didn't start great, but look dominant now. Aaronson pretty good while I have watched, including a great backtracking steal which he immediately converted to a dangerous attack.
Paxten starts against Feyenoord as they play for third place. Taylor not in the squad as he may have played his last match - actively exploring transfers during this window.
GOAL PAXTEN - Full tilt sprint on the counterattack. Cathline delivers a high-class outside of the boot cross to Paxten that splits the defense and keeper, leaving Paxten a pretty empty net and he's able to control his strike on the bouncing ball at a full sprint. Makes it 2-0 Utrecht.