A very good evening! Tonight Feyenoord will visit the Euroborg. The undefeated FC Groningen starts this match with eight points in their pocket. After four rounds, this brings the Pride of the North to fourth place, certainly not a bad start for the promoted team. Tonight, FC can measure itself against one of the traditional top clubs of the Netherlands. Feyenoord, with one match less played, is in ninth place.
Of course, we also think back to that cup match last season. At that time, the Pride of the North held its own against Feyenoord in the Kuip and managed to take the lead via Laros Duarte. At that time, the green-whites were narrowly defeated, but tonight the cards will be reshuffled.
Head coach Dick Lukkien was unable to use central defender Marco Rente tonight. During a practice match against SC Cambuur, the defender had to leave the field early due to a hamstring injury. Thijmen Blokzaal, who has only had six minutes of playing time this season, replaces Rente and may start in the starting line-up for the first time this season.
FC’s last win over Feyenoord dates back to 2019. However, FC Groningen often holds its own against Feyenoord at home and the figures are also (almost) perfectly balanced. They won 14 times, drew 15 times and lost 15 times. Is it time tonight to really bring those figures into balance?
The final whistle sounds
FC showed character and fought until the end. The points with Feyenoord are shared.
90′ Five minutes of added time
What else can FC do?
81′ Willumsson makes it 1-2!
Pelupessy sees that Willumsson and gives a measured pass to Willumsson. The attacker controls the ball, cuts inside and shoots Groningen to 1-2. After the goal, Schreuders is taken off the field for Noam Emeran.
76′ FC Groningen will make substitutions again
Joey Pelupessy and Thijs Oosting come on the field for Stije Resink and Romano Postema.
75′ Good chance for FC
Via Rui Mendes and an innovative back heel from Postema, Hove can shoot. Not between the posts this time.
70′ Goal Feyenoord
Debutant Resink loses the ball to Lotomba who can cross it to Paixao. The attacker is not bullied by Groningen defenders and nods the ball past Vaessen.
67′ FC Groningen will make substitutions
Rui Mendes comes on for Luciano Valente. Thom van Bergen also leaves the field and is replaced by Brynjolfur Willumsson.
66′ Van Bergen almost does it
It is Wellenreuther’s foot that prevents FC Groningen from equalizing.
61′ Vaessen continues to build his wall
When Quinten Timber appears in front of the FC goal, Vaessen’s foot prevents a goal. Minutes, Paixao leaves the Groningen defense behind him and storms towards the goal. This one-on-one is also for the Groningen goalkeeper.
57′ Hove shoots free kick at keeper
At about 25 meters from the goal, FC earns a free kick. Johan Hove takes aim and shoots the ball straight at Wellenreuther. Where the Rotterdammers remain dangerous, the Groningers also show themselves more on Feyenoord’s half.
46′ The second half starts: immediately one side for Feyenoord
FC Groningen comes out of the dressing room with the same eleven. Feyenoord changes Thomas Beelen for Gernot Trauner. Feyenoord immediately manages to get a dangerous shot on goal, but Vaessen stops it again.
Rust
Where Feyenoord started the match better, the Groningers took over the initiative after fifteen minutes of play. After the unfortunate own goal by Thom van Bergen, FC lost it. Can Dick Lukkien pull his team together again at half-time?
39′ Groningen says ‘thank you’ to Vaessen
Thijmen Blokzijl loses his opponent and the ball is passed wide to Bart Nieuwkoop. The midfielder is face to face with Vaessen, but the Groningen goalkeeper keeps his cool and saves FC from a 0-2 deficit.
32′ Own goal Van Bergen
From a corner, the ball is flung towards Vaessen’s goal. Van Bergen tries to clear, but unfortunately heads the ball into the far corner. Vaessen has no chance. Feyenoord takes a 0-1 lead.
28′ FC Groningen feels at home in Feyenoord’s half
FC Groningen plays with confidence and takes the initiative in the second quarter of the match. FC chases and conquers the ball around the halfway line. Luciano Valente is allowed to receive it and tries it from a distance. Timon Wellenreuther dives to the left corner, but the shot flies just past the outside of the post. A few minutes later, Van Bergen plays a measured pass to Postema, who is waiting in the sixteen. Timon Wellenreuther is quick to it and prevents a shot.
23′ Chance for Postema
Romano Postema is completely free and receives the ball in the penalty area. The attacker takes the ball on his chest, but needs too much time to control it. He does not get to a shot. The FC has been appearing more and more often around the penalty area of the Rotterdammers in the past few minutes, but the first shot on goal has yet to materialize.
19′ Resink pulls the emergency brake
Suddenly FC Groningen appears in front of the Rotterdam goal. The attack is intercepted, which leads to a quick counter from the opponent. Debutant Steije Resink brings down Jordan Lotomba who had set off at speed towards Vaessen’s goal. The midfielder receives a yellow card.
14′ Early yellow for Van Bergen
Thom van Bergen hits Paixao’s leg instead of the ball. The attacker gets an early yellow card.
11′ Free kick for Feyenoord in a dangerous position
After a duel involving both Leandro Bacuna and Jorg Schreuders, referee Makkelie places the ball on the right edge of the sixteen-yard box. Igor Paixao sends the ball hard towards the goal, but Etienne Vaessen blocks and turns it into a corner. The two corner kicks that follow yield nothing for the Rotterdammers.
7′ The first shot is a fact
FC starts sharply. However, Feyenoord manages to create the first real danger after a quick breakout and reaches the sixteen-meter. Marvin Peersman knows how to time his tackle well and ultimately prevents a shot on goal. The ball ends up at the feet of Quinten Timber again, but his shot flies high over.
1′ We’ve started!
Thom van Bergen gets the ball rolling. The first half starts
Tika de Jonge drops out due to injury
During the warm-up, Tika de Jonge was injured. The midfielder was supposed to start in the first team, but is now replaced by Stije Resink. The midfielder, who came over from Almere City, will make his official debut for FC.
FC Groningen line-up: Etienne Vaessen;
Feyenoord line-up: Timon Wellenreuther, Jordan Lotomba, Thomas Beelen, David Hancko; Santiago Giménez.
Referee: Danny Makkelie
