Feyenoord takes important step with victory over Union Berlin

Thursday, October 21, 2021 at 8:34 PM• Dominic Mostert • Last update: 23:38

Feyenoord took an important step towards wintering in the Conference League on Thursday evening. In their own Kuip, the team from Rotterdam won 3-1 against 1. FC Union Berlin, thanks to goals from Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Bryan Linssen and Luis Sinisterra. Feyenoord retains the lead in Group E with seven points. The second place is now taken by Maccabi Haifa, who surprisingly beat Slavia Prague 1-0. Slavia and Union are in third and fourth place with three points.

In the run-up to the match, it was mainly about the disturbances outside the lines: a delegation from Union Berlin was attacked by a group of twenty people on a terrace in Rotterdam on Wednesday evening. It caused a depressed mood for some, but nevertheless the atmosphere was good from the first moment. After a fireworks show from the stands, an attractive first half was created, in which Feyenoord scored twice. The first serious chance, however, was for Union. Taiwo Awoniyi struggled past Lutsharel Geertruida, who replaced the ailing Marcos Senesi; at the last minute Gernot Trauner tapped the ball away from the striker’s feet.

After that, Feyenoord was the dominant party. After ten minutes Arne Slot’s team took the lead. After a nice long ball from Orkun Kökçü, Sinisterra took the ball into the penalty area, before passing Paul Jaeckel. Sinisterra put the ball back to Guus Til, who with some luck got the ball to Jahanbakhsh. The Iranian rounded off at the far post. After half an hour it became 2-0. Union defender Robin Knoche wanted to head the ball back to his goalkeeper, but got off balance due to a light push from Linssen. This gave the striker the chance to face Andreas Luthe in a controlled manner. Ten minutes before the end, however, Union found the connection.

It was Awoniyi who brought the tension back into the match. Christopher Trimmel got the chance to send a cross; Awoniyi jumped while Geertruida stayed on the ground, allowing the visitors’ striker to head in unruly. In the last minute of the first half, Feyenoord had several great chances for the 3-1: Sinisterra isolated in the penalty area past two defenders and saw his shot being choked, after which Luthe made a save with his foot on the rebound of Jens Toornstra and Jahanbakhsh. third instance also failed. After the break Feyenoord started a bit uncomfortable. The first serious goal danger came from a free kick: Kökçü shot into Luthe’s hands.

Union then threatened every now and then, without really creating any great chances. Halfway through the second half, former Eredivisionist Sheraldo Becker came in to create more danger. Eighteen minutes before the end, he had a good shooting opportunity from the box, but Justin Bijlow made the save. Just before that, Til also missed an excellent opportunity from about the same spot in the other penalty area. The 3-1 came through Sinisterra. The fierce Marcus Pedersen and Toornstra captured the ball, after which a shooting opportunity arose for Linssen. Luthe made the save, but the Colombian was in the right place in the rebound. In the second minute of stoppage time, Dessers, Sinisterra and Til successively had huge opportunities, but the 4-1 was not made; Sinisterra’s bet hit the post.