Utrecht secures first league win of the season thanks to Stepanov goal
Artem Stepanov helped Utrecht defeat Excelsior 2-1, marking his fifth consecutive goal in the league.
Utrecht clinched their first victory of the current Eredivisie season, defeating Excelsior 2-1 on the road. The defining moment came in the 93rd minute when Dani de Wit brilliantly lobbed the opposing goalkeeper to secure three crucial points.
Ukrainian forward Artem Stepanov opened the scoring in the 36th minute, capitalizing on a close-range chance. This goal marked the 19-year-old's fifth consecutive match with a goal in the league. Stepanov is now the youngest player to achieve this feat since Rafael van der Vaart in 2001.
The match shifted in the second half as the hosts pushed for an equalizer, which arrived in the 76th minute through Aymen Sliti. Despite Excelsior's momentum, Utrecht's late counter-attack proved decisive.
This result provides a significant boost for the club. Next week, Utrecht faces a difficult away test against Feyenoord.