Michiel Kramer put Feyenoord ahead and though Ramon Leeuwin equalised, Eljero Elia's shot led to a decisive own goal by unfortunate goalkeeper Filip Bednarek.
Feyenoord's first-half pressure eventually told three minutes before the break as Kramer jumped above the Utrecht defense to meet a Dirk Kuyt cross and guide a header beyond the dive of Bednarek and just inside the post.
Leeuwin levelled with a low shot six minutes into the second half after Feyenoord failed to clear a free-kick but Feyenoord, in their own stadium, won it in the 75th minute when Elia cut infield from the left and his shot that struck a post and rebounded into the net off Bednarek's back.
