Feyenoord collapse in Romania, lose 4-3 to FCSB after last-second goal

Feyenoord’s European campaign hit a new low on Thursday. The Rotterdammers threw away a two-goal lead, losing 4-3 away to FCSB in the last second of the game. Casper Tengstedt, Quinten Timber, and Leo Sauer had put Feyenoord 3-1 up after they had gone a goal behind.

Robin van Persie’s side have won just one out of their six games in the competition this season. It was FCSB’s second win in the Europa League; their other win came against Go Ahead Eagles. Feyenoord’s last two opponents in the league phase are Sturm Graz and Real Betis. They must win both games to have any chance of going through.

Casper Tengstedt was given a surprise starting spot in the striker position. Ayase Ueda, who is the top scorer of the Eredivisie this season, started the game on the bench.

Feyenoord conceded the opening goal in the 11th minute. A corner from Risto Radunovic was headed into the far corner by center back Siyabonga Ngezana.

The Rotterdammers' first real chance came in the 26th minute. Luciano Valente played a great pass to Tengstedt, who spun before hitting his shot wide. Tengstedt was very active in the first half. He thought he had won a penalty when the referee, Mykola Balakin from Ukraine, pointed to the spot. After checking the VAR screen, he judged that Tengstedt had initiated the contact.

It was a great end to the first half for Feyenoord as they scored two goals in quick succession to go into halftime with the lead. Tengstedt headed a corner from Valente into the far corner to make it 1-1, before Valente got another assist a few minutes later when his cross was laid on a plate for Quinten Timber to nod home.

FCSB looked like they had collapsed with Feyenoord strolling to a 3-1 lead in the 51st minute. A good through ball by Jordan Bos found Leo Sauer in behind the defence, and the Slovakian winger placed the ball through the legs of Ștefan Târnovanu to give Van Persie’s side a comfortable lead.

But the home team reduced the lead back to one goal just two minutes later. A cross from Juri Cissotti was headed into the goal by Mihai Toma via Feyenoord keeper Timon Wellenreuther.

Feyenoord started to falter near the end of the game. This led to the 3-3 in the 87th minute. Valentin Cretu, a second-half substitute, found striker Mamadou Thiam and nodded the ball home.

It was a final ten minutes to forget for Feyenoord captain Anis Hadj Moussa. First, the Algerian winger failed to capitalize on some good work from Goncalo Borges when he received the ball in the box in space, with his effort being saved by Tarnovanu.

And then came his costly error. He played a dangerous high pass to left back Bos, who also dealt with the situation poorly. Cisotti was on hand to win the ball before dribbling around Wellenreuther and rolling the ball across the box to Florin Tanase, who sent the crowd in the Arena National into ecstasy with what proved to be the final touch of the ball for the game.

It is a disastrous final match for Van Persie’s side before they face their arch-rivals Ajax on Sunday. The Amsterdammers, who trail Feyenoord by eight points in the Eredivisie table, have won their last two games, including their first game in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.