Ivorian striker Sébastien Haller ends drought with crucial assist for FC Utrecht

Sébastien Haller produced his first decisive contribution of the season as FC Utrecht drew with Feyenoord, assisting Gjivai Zechiël’s equaliser in Sunday’s Eredivisie clash.

The Ivorian striker played the full 90 minutes and finally made an impact after enduring a difficult start to the campaign.

Fans and analysts criticised his lack of goals in recent months, but his involvement in Utrecht’s key moment marked an important step towards rediscovering form.

Haller’s crucial pass came midway through the second half, highlighting his value to the team despite ongoing frustrations in front of goal.

It was a significant personal moment for the forward, who has struggled to replicate the prolific scoring form he displayed during his first spell at Utrecht between 2015 and 2017.

The 30-year-old’s afternoon was not without disappointment. Around the hour mark, Feyenoord goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther slipped and gifted the ball directly to Haller.

With the goal in sight, the striker miscontrolled the ball and saw a golden chance vanish — a moment that summed up his current struggles.

Despite failing to score this season, Haller’s performance showed signs of improvement, particularly after Utrecht made changes in the second half.

Head coach Ron Jans praised the striker’s resilience and noted a clear difference after the break.

“In the first half, I noticed Haller’s frustration several times,” Jans explained. “He needed depth to exploit spaces, but it wasn’t there.

When David came on, he brought that depth and more energy. That improvement was also thanks to Vesterlund, Jonathans, Murkin and Bozdogan.

We created chances, and that gives us confidence moving forward.”

Utrecht’s attacking threat remained limited despite the assist. According to Opta statistics, the team registered an expected goals (xG) total of just 0.5 at De Kuip — their lowest in an Eredivisie match since October 27, 2024. Coincidentally, that game was also against Feyenoord, when their xG stood at 0.3.

Haller’s struggles have been a talking point throughout the season, as he continues to search for his first goal since returning to Utrecht.

His reputation as a reliable finisher was built during his initial stint at the club, where he regularly found the net before moving abroad.

Sunday’s assist, though, offers a glimmer of optimism for both player and club. It demonstrated Haller’s ability to influence matches even when not scoring and could prove to be a turning point in his campaign.

With Utrecht needing results to climb the Eredivisie table, his leadership and experience in the final third remain vital.

For Haller, the challenge now is to build on this performance and translate assists into goals.

The Ivorian forward knows expectations remain high, but if he continues to create decisive moments, a return to scoring form may not be far away.

Gjivai Zechiël scoort in De Kuip tegen zijn Feyenoord 😳#feyutr

— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) October 5, 2025