UEFA Europa League woes continue for Feyenoord after 3-1 home defeat against Celtic
Feyenoord’s poor recent form continued on Thursday as they were beaten 3-1 at home by Scottish side Celtic in the UEFA Europa League. The Rotterdammers had taken the lead through Ayase Ueda before the away side struck back via Yang Hyun-Jun, Reo Hatate, and Benjamin Nygren.
The loss has given the Rotterdammers an uphill battle when it comes to qualifying for the next phase. They have currently won just one game out of five this season and are 31st in the 36-team Europa League, with many teams yet to play this evening.
Robin van Persie made two changes to the side that were defeated 4-2 at home by NEC Nijmegen at the weekend. Quinten Timber and Bart Nieuwkoop dropped to the bench with Jordan Lotomba and Oussamma Targhalline replacing them in the first 11.
Feyenoord broke the deadlock in the 11th minute. A great long pass from Luciano Valente found Sem Steijn, who unselfishly laid the ball off to Ayase Ueda, and the Japanese striker did the rest, placing the ball into the far corner.
It was almost 2-0 a few minutes later. Ueda headed a cross across the box, and it was met by Leo Sauer, but his toe poke was too hard, and the effort went over the Celtic goal.
Celtic equalized on the half-hour mark. A chipped pass to Reo Hatate was then lobbed towards the far corner to Yang Hyun-Jun, and his effort squeezed into the goal past Timon Wellenreuther.
Ueda almost restored Feyenoord’s lead in the 34th minute. A through ball by Targhelline launched the attack before Anis Hadj Moussa played the pass to Ueda. The striker took his time before finding the space for the shot, which Kasper Schmeichel saved.
The away side took the lead just before halftime after an error from Timon Wellenreuther. The keeper took too long on the ball, giving Daizen Maeda the chance to use his pace and block the German’s clearance attempt, which then led to Hatate rolling the ball into the vacant goal.
Feyenoord came agonizingly close to taking the lead in the 74th minute. A cross was headed onto the crossbar by substitute Gaoussou Diarra.
Although the final result was disappointing, it was a historic night for the Van Persie family as Robin brought on his son, Shaquille, in the closing stages of the game for his first appearance in the first team at Feyenoord.
Celtic put the game to bed in the 82nd minute. Again, it was Maeda playing a huge role in the goal. The winger controlled the ball in the box with his back to goal and played a first-time pass to Benjamin Nygren, who took a touch before smashing the effort into the goal via the underside of the crossbar.
