After Utrecht efficiently handled Moldovan side Sheriff Tiraspol in the second round, Servette were banished to the UEFA Europa League after Czech outfit Viktoria Plzen eliminated them from the UEFA Champions League qualifying stages.
Servette rocked up to the home game against FC Utrecht without a manager after Thomas Haberli got fired after last weekend's 4-1 home loss to FC St. Gallen. Three players did not survive Saturday's heavy defeat, with goalkeeper Jeremy Frick, Steve Rouiller and Lilian Njoh getting sent back to the bench in favour of Joel Mall, Bradley Mazikou, and Keyan Varela.
FC Utrecht boss Ron Jans gave Jamaican-English talent Adrian Blake another chance on the right wing, as the 20-year-old replaced Miliano Jonathans.
A quiet first half cost FC Utrecht dearly in the opening fifteen minutes, when striker Jeremy Guillemenot headed Servette in front after twelve minutes.
Gjivai Zechiel and Nick Viergever came agonisingly close to an equaliser for the visitors, who went into the break with a 1-0 deficit and a job cut out for them.
Turnaround
Servette decided to help Utrecht get back in the game when Yoann Cathline stormed the Swiss side's left side and saw his effort get ricocheted in Mall's top corner via Servette defender Anthony Baron.
Utrecht took the lead just three minutes later when Sieb Horemans scored for the second game running, and Utrecht scored from a set piece for the third game in a row.
Gjivai Zechiel completely turned the game around for Utrecht another seven minutes later, putting the 3-1 on the board with a calm finish in the bottom corner.
Servette were not able to put any pressure on FC Utrecht, who take a comfortable two-goal lead back home to the Galgenwaard, where the return will be played next Wednesday, August 14th, at 20.00 CET.
View all the match statistics on Flashscore.
