Feyenoord complete an incredible comeback to draw 3-3 against Manchester City
Feyenoord completed an incredible comeback to draw 3-3 away to the reigning champions of England, Manchester City, in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. The Rotterdammers were 3-0 down with 20 minutes left to play, but goals from Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Gimenez, and David Hancko ensured that Brian Priske’s side got a draw that will live long in the memory.
Feyenoord started the match with their captain, Quinten Timber, in the starting line-up. The midfielder missed the win against SC Heerenveen at the weekend due to an ankle injury but was fit to return for this match.
Timon Wellenreuther made a terrific stop to prevent the home side from taking the lead in the first ten minutes. A cross from Manuel Akanji was headed toward goal by Erling Haaland, and it was about to find the target via the inside of the post before the German clawed it away.
Wellenreuther was making up for his poor form earlier in the season with a terrific display as he made another fine save to knock Phil Foden’s effort around the post when the Englishman shot from distance in the 23rd minute.
Feyenoord seemed to have weathered the English champions' early storm, but Pep Guardiola’s side were gifted a penalty in the 41st minute. Timber was penalized for kicking Haaland. The striker took the penalty himself and scored, sending Wellenreuther the wrong way.
Luck did not seem to be on Feyenoord’s side on the night when City made it 2-0 within five minutes of the second half starting. A corner was headed out to Ilkay Gündogan, whose volley was going straight at Wellenreuther before it was deflected into the goal by Hancko.
It got worse four minutes later when Haaland got his second of the match to make it 3-0. Feyenoord’s high line was bypassed, sending Matheus Nunes sprawling down the wing with plenty of space ahead of him. He then picked out Haaland, who timed his sliding effort perfectly to score.
Feyenoord’s first goal of the game came in the 74th minute, and many will have thought it was a consolation goal at that point. A mistake by Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol was punished by Hadj Moussa, who kept his calm to dribble past Ederson in the city goal before converting from an acute angle.
The atmosphere in the Etihad Stadium was still reasonably calm, with City fans and players still thinking the game was won. But that soon changed when Feyenoord scored again in the 81st minute. A cross to the far post was met by Jordan Lotomba, who knocked it across the goal, surprising Ederson and leading to an assist for Santiago Gimenez, who tapped home from close range.
City was reeling, and the incredibly dramatic comeback was completed in the 89th minute. Igor Paixao got to the ball before Ederson, who had come out of his goal. The Brazilian then played a perfect cross to David Hancko at the far post, who nodded it home to send the traveling Rotterdammers into wild celebrations.
The drama kept coming in the match as Jack Grealish’s deflected effort hit the crossbar a minute later. But Feyenoord held on for a wholly unexpected point. According to OptaJoe, a site specialising in sports stats, it was the first time that a team had been leading by three goals as late as the 74th minute in the UEFA Champions League without going on to win the game.
The point puts Feyenoord in 20th position in the 36-team league, a spot that guarantees progress to the play-off round. However, they could drop out of these positions if results go against them in tomorrow’s fixtures. Their next match is at home against Sparta Prague on December 11.
