Feyenoord beat Volendam 3-1 and share the top position in the Eredivisie with PSV

With the knowledge that Ajax choked a few hours earlier in Heerenveen, the Feyenoord players knew that after the lost top match against PSV, no work could be done by halves against FC Volendam. In order to be able to compete fully in the title battle with PSV this season, it is important to lose as few points as possible against the clubs on the right.

Ismael Saibari steals the show again at PSV, which falls far back after the break against Fortuna Sittard

These duels must yield full rewards and Robin van Persie seemed to have drilled that into his players. The work ethic was visible in a formation that had again been changed in several places as a result of injuries and tactics.

Sem Steijn back in the starting line-up

Captain Steijn had to swallow something against PSV when he was given a place on the reserve bench and had to wait and see whether he would return immediately against Volendam. The absence of Oussama Targhaline, who appears to have suffered a mild concussion, immediately created a vacancy. But there was also competition from In-beom Hwang. He did not start against the men of Volendam and so the midfield at kick-off consisted of Luciano Valente, Steijn and Quinten Timber for the first time.

Sem Steijn had a conversation with Robin van Persie and was silent about areas for improvement: ‘Then I won’t do that either’

It is one of many options that, provided they are all fit, Van Persie has for his center line. Whether that trio is really capable of great things was difficult to gauge against the number 14 of the Eredivisie.

Feyenoord drove for almost seventy minutes in a one-way street without speed bumps, without 30 kilometer signs or zebra crossings with Volendam residents crossing. Within ten minutes, Ueda had already strengthened his position as top scorer in the Eredivisie. Anis Hadj Moussa and Valente were constantly looking for him, but his sights were not focused until the 20th minute. At the fourth chance, which was offered to him by Givairo Read, he did score.

Immediately afterwards, Steijn also lived up to his status as a goal thief. The captain produced his sixth goal of this season and he needed eleven games to do so. There is quite a bit of criticism for the blonde from The Hague, but if he maintains this average in the competition he will easily end up with 18 or 20 goals and those are numbers that few midfielders achieve. Among the first twelve players on the top scorers list, he is also the youngest, together with striker Troy Parrott from AZ (both 23 years old).

In a packed Kuip, the Legion looked with increasing amazement at all the opportunities that were subsequently missed. After an hour, Volendam goalkeeper Kayne van Oevelen no longer knew how the balls stayed out of the net. He made a number of nice saves himself, but the keeper must also have been happy that Ueda aimed headers from a meter away wide and over the goal. There was also a barrage of shots on the legs and other body parts of the Volendam team, but Henk Veerman scored from one stray cross from Volendam striker Aurelio Oehlers. Timon Wellenreuther completely misjudged the high ball at the second post.

And the same Veerman actually received another cross after 72 minutes from which he could score. It now came from the left flank, but to Wellenreuther’s relief it disappeared high into the stands at the second post. Ueda then added a little more cheer to the stadium with his second goal of the evening.

Feyenoord must do better against VfB Stuttgart

Feyenoord can create chances, especially with a man like Valente as a big creative man in midfield. But against VfB Stuttgart on Thursday for the Europa League, the team cannot afford to lose so much laziness.