9.7 in Utrecht: Armah-Sackey’s European night keeps Spanish hopes alive

Richard Armah-Sackey gave FC Utrecht the performance that turned a bruising European night into a victory over Getafe. Two goals, an assist and a match rating of 9.7: the Dutchman was the difference in a 4-2 result settled 3-1 on penalties on Thursday, 17 April.

For Spanish football, Getafe’s exit is the hard edge of the story. They made Utrecht work for every inch at Stadion Galgenwaard, and the Dutch side needed 120 minutes before penalties decided it. Six key passes and four shots, three on target, tell the tale of a player who kept asking questions until he was replaced in added time at the end of extra time.

Armah-Sackey, a Utrecht youth product who has spent his career at the club, played that part here. He covered 16.5 kilometres and left the field with the night’s outstanding individual display, but not before helping his side through a test that demanded more than a single moment.

Utrecht had 30 shots to Getafe’s 14 and 16 corners to six, yet the Spanish visitors stayed in the fight. Getafe goalkeeper Tal Lam made 13 saves; Utrecht’s Yann Touré made seven. Such numbers explain why this was no procession, and why the penalty shoot-out mattered.

Armah-Sackey’s own future at Utrecht has a sharper note: he wants a new deal that reflects his ability. There was no mistaking that ability on Thursday. Next for Utrecht is ACF Fiorentina on 1 May in the UEFA Europa League; for Getafe, the immediate business is to absorb a painful European defeat.