Feyenoord crowned themselves the group winner in the Conference League on Thursday evening with a hard-fought 2-2 draw at Sparta Prague. Arne Slot’s team had not yet been certain of the group win in the event of a defeat, but the draw was sufficient. Ofir Marciano, the replacement for Justin Bijlow who stayed behind in Rotterdam, made a mistake with both goals by Slavia. Cyriel Dessers, the man of the two hits, went to his teammate after the game to give him a heart.
“But he also saved us once,” Dessers referred to a nice reflex by Marciano on a header by Jan Kuchta. “We all do it together. That makes us so strong. After that red card from Guus Til, our defenders and midfielders only started to run more and work harder. After that 2-2 of mine I see a lot of substitutes standing next to me, who have all sprinted about ninety meters across the field to celebrate the goal with me. That team spirit is very special and makes us difficult to beat.”
“It is no coincidence that we have struck so often in the final phase.” Dessers knows better than anyone what goes through Marciano’s head. “It may be the first time in his life that he has conceded two goals because of two mistakes of his own at this level,” Slot said in turn after the game. “I told him that you have to provide a good response. After our loss of points against RKC, when he missed opportunities, Dessers was the bitten dog in the media. But look where he is now.”
Dessers was allowed to fill in against Slavia earlier than usual, because Bryan Linssen was unable to continue after more than fifteen minutes. He signed for a nice equalizer in the 31st minute and helped Feyenoord in injury time to a place in the eighth finals, which will only be completed in March. Dessers already scored important goals this season as a substitute in the final phase against Sparta, 1. FC Union Berlin and AZ.
“That’s the life of a goalkeeper and a striker, sometimes you’re the hero, sometimes the schlemiel. Now it’s up to Marciano to come back like Dessers. I would really like that.” Feyenoord is now certain of a place in the eighth finals and does not have to play an intermediate round anyway. The last time Feyenoord wintered in Europe was in the 2014/15 season.