Feyenoord claim first UEFA Europa League win with comeback against Panathinaikos

Feyenoord picked up their first win in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, beating Greek side Panathinaikos 3-1 in De Kuip. Givairo Read, Anis Hadj-Moussa, and Cyle Larin scored the goals for the Rotterdammers after they had gone a goal down to a goal from Karol Swiderski.

It is the right result for Robin van Persie’s side in anticipation of the hugely important Eredivisie game against PSV on Sunday.

The game had been moved twice during the day due to Storm Benjamin. It was first moved to 4:30 p.m. before the storm hit Rotterdam earlier than expected, resulting in a 9 p.m. start time.

Panathinaikos silenced the crowd in De Kuip in the 18th minute. A good pass from former Heerenveen Filip Djuricic found Giorgos Kyriakopoulos; his shot was saved by Timon Wellenreuther before Karol Swiderski’s effort bounced into the goal.

The visitors should have made it 2-0 in the 24th minute. They had three attackers against two Feyenoord defenders on the break when the pass was played through to the Brazilian winger Tete; his effort was saved by Wellenreuther.

Feyenoord equalized in the last seconds of the first half. A cross from Aymen Sliti went past the Panathinaikos defense to Givairo Read, who found the net via the inside of the far post.

It was a trademark Anis Hadj Moussa goal that gave Feyenoord the lead in the 55th minute. The Algerian winger dribbled past Kyriakopoulos on the outside before cutting back inside the Greek defender, sending him sliding, before placing the ball into the far corner.

Read almost added an assist to his goal in the second half when he showed quick feet to find Ayase Ueda in the box. The Japanese striker, who has been in fantastic form this season, saw his effort saved by Bartłomiej Drągowski.

Feyenoord thought they had been awarded a penalty in the 67th minute when the referee pointed to the spot after Leo Sauer’s effort hit the arm of Panathinaikos’ Icelandic defender Sverrir Ingi Ingason, but the decision was overturned after a VAR review.

The game was decided in the 90th minute. Luciano Valente played a fantastic pass to Smal, whose cross was eventually finished by Cyle Latin after he had sliced the first attempt.

Sauer should have gotten himself on the scoresheet in the final minutes of the game. The young Slovakian winger’s touch from a deep pass from Hadj Moussa was immaculate, but his finish let him down, as it cannoned off the post.

The Rotterdammers are now in 25th place out of 36 in the competition. Just outside of a spot in the playoff round.