Dessers lets Feyenoord enjoy European adventure even longer

Cyriel Dessers has extended Feyenoord’s European adventure this season with at least one more destination. With two of the three goals of his team, the striker had a large share in the victory at Slavia Prague (3-1). That was enough for a place in the semifinals of the Conference League, after last week’s 3-3 in De Kuip.

Dessers was again preferred over Bryan Linssen, who was allowed to start in the home game against the Czechs last week. Earlier this season, the striker also scored twice in the away game against Slavia in the group stage of the Conference League (2-2).

Feyenoord is well on its way to making the season in UEFA’s third league successful. In its own country, the club has dropped out of the title race for a while and was eliminated from the KNVB Cup. Feyenoord started the European campaign last summer in the preliminary rounds against Drita, Lucerne and IF Elsborg. After group matches with Union Berlin, Maccabi Haifa and Slavia Prague, an eighth final against Partizan Belgrade followed.

final battle

After the victory in Prague, Olympique Marseille will be the last obstacle in the semi-finals on the way to the final battle on May 25 in Tirana. Feyenoord will receive the French on April 28. The return is scheduled for a week later.

Dessers opened the scoring after 2 minutes. Orkun Kökçü could count on Slavia equalizing in the 14th minute. The Turkey international played the ball far too softly back to his goalkeeper Ofir Marciano. Ibrahim Traoré assessed the situation well and was able to score easily.

Error

Peter Olayinka was close to 2-1 for Slavia, after a mistake by Lutsharel Geertruida who was again fit enough to take over from right-back Marcus Pedersen. Just before half time, Dessers missed the chance of a second goal in the Sinobo Stadium.

Jens Toornstra replaced the injured Guus Til in the base. The midfielder went to the side in the opening phase of the second half with a lot of pain. His replacement Patrik Wålemark was on the pitch for less than 5 minutes when goalkeeper Aleš Mandous made a huge mistake. Dessers was on the lookout and benefited gratefully. Luis Sinisterra once again cheered the approximately one thousand Feyenoord fans who had traveled with him in the 78th minute. He celebrated his tenth goal of the season for Feyenoord in the Conference League. Moments later, he had to leave the field injured.