Sunday, March 6, 2022 at 07:32• Last update: 07:45

No player scored more for Feyenoord as a substitute in an Eredivisie season than Cyriel Dessers this football year. The attacker ensured on Saturday evening that the home game with FC Groningen (1-1) did not end in a defeat for the Rotterdam team and thus equaled Jozsef Kiprich, who also scored five times as a substitute in competition in 1992/93. Afterwards, Arne Slot was satisfied with the way in which Dessers filled in his substitute and does not rule out a base place in the near future.

“Cyriel has just returned from an injury and was not able to play ninety minutes yet, but a good sub will at least help to get to a starting spot. He makes it difficult for me, just like Patrick Wålemark, in my choices. But they’ve been doing that for much longer,” the Feyenoord trainer said afterwards ESPN† “Of course he also comes on the field during a very good period. The second half was a lot better anyway. Of course, Dessers also played a role in that, but I think we started creating opportunities from the break. A striker benefits if the team starts to play better.”

Dessers came in for Bryan Linssen after 56 minutes, who has been dry for seven games. “I think Bryan has done his best passionately. He also really suffered from the fact that the pressure was not so good in the first half,” Slot explained the relatively early substitution after the interruption. “He had to walk a lot in that. You have to praise him for that. Linssen just keeps doing that and then it’s not a striker who at a given moment says: ‘I’m walking like a headless chicken, I’ll stop for a while.’ He just keeps giving gas.”

Dessers not only scored, but also hit the post. Lutsharel Geertruida missed two opportunities and Luis Sinisterra headed for goalkeeper Peter Leeuwenburgh. “This feels like a defeat,” said Justin Bijlow. “We have to take advantage of the opportunities after the break and we didn’t do that. That broke us.” Like Slot, Bijlow saw a big contrast between the first and second half of Feyenoord. “Before the break, Groningen played out easily under our pressure. She couldn’t do that in the second half.”

Due to the draw, Feyenoord is five points behind the leader at Ajax, which plays at home against RKC Waalwijk on Sunday. Number two PSV, which will meet Heracles Almelo at home on Sunday, has three points more. AZ can approach Feyenoord up to a point on Sunday. The Alkmaarders, who won 2-1 against the Rotterdam club last week, are visiting NEC.