The pressure was mounting as Utrecht entered the final phase of their remarkable season. From finishing 9th the previous year to sitting in 3rd place with just three matches remaining, the transformation had been nothing short of extraordinary. But with European qualification within touching distance, every match had become a cup final, every point precious, every moment crucial.
The Roda JC match at the Galgenwaard on April 28th represented another step toward the promised land of European football. Roda were a mid-table team with nothing to play for except pride, which made them potentially dangerous opponents. Teams with no pressure often played with a freedom that could trouble even the best sides.
