Feyenoord through penalties to the quarterfinals after an insane cup evening with eight goals in De Kuip | Dutch football

October 27, it is the day Feyenoord lost for the last time. But against NEC it really seemed after 89 minutes that February 8, 2023 would go into the books as a new date. After a faded first half by Feyenoord, NEC had taken a 0-2 lead in De Kuip, which it held for a long time, partly due to missed Rotterdam opportunities.

But then suddenly everything changed, as Feyenoord has done so many times this season. At home against PSV, for example, three days earlier, when a 0-2 deficit was erased within fifteen minutes and a point was taken. Against NEC it was even more impressive in terms of timing, with goals in the 90th and 92nd minutes.

And that while it didn’t look like it at all after the first half. A half in which Feyenoord, who had Quilindschy Hartman back after illness, hardly created any chances and the team from Nijmegen had enough with two outbreaks. Twice Oussama Tannane was at the basis of this.

With the first goal he put away former Feyenoord player Calvin Verdonk, who rounded off via Feyenoord goalie Timon Wellenreuther. And just before half-time it also became 0-2 for NEC via a klutsgoal, thanks to a goal from striker Pedro Marques. He found the ball at his feet after an action by Tannane and an intervention by Wellenreuther and scored the second Nijmegen goal.

All in all, what Feyenoord showed in the first half was below par. It was reason for Slot to reverse some interventions he had made in advance – there were five other players than against PSV – at halftime.

Quinten Timber and Santiago Giménez, who were rested, joined after the break. In the first half, Danilo, Giménez’s replacement, in particular, had made little impression. The Brazilian got the ball in front of his feet in a promising position on several occasions, but each time his effort lacked power.

Mohamed Taabouni did not do too bad as Timber’s replacement, but could not break any pots. Pedersen fell victim to Timber’s insertion at half-time. Oussama Idrissi and Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who got the chance from Slot against NEC on the flanks and drove Igor Paixão and Javairô Dilrosun to the bench, were allowed to stand for a while, but will not have made a crushing impression on Slot either.

After the break it was better what Feyenoord showed. The team had some great chances, especially halfway through the second half. Giménez first had a shooting opportunity from a low cross, but he fired over from a few meters in front of the goal. And Lutsharel Geertruida had the ball from close range after 73 minutes, but also failed.

Faith seemed to slowly flow out of Slot’s team. Seemed, because Feyenoord kept looking for the attack. And in the 89th minute the game turned. Giménez shot the ball against the arm of substitute Philippe Sandler, who got a red card and awarded Feyenoord a penalty. Kökçü fired a hit, De Kuip stood behind it and saw Feyenoord strike thanks to substitute Paixão.

From a cross from Dilrosun, the not too tall Paixão towered over his direct opponent to nod in the 2-2. Once again Feyenoord averted such a defeat, now with the difference that Slot’s team still had to get a ticket for the quarterfinals in extra time.

Feyenoord kept knocking on the door, but a dozen from NEC struck first. Jordy Bruijn fumbled through the Feyenoord defense and squeezed the ball under Wellenreuther: 2-3. But Feyenoord fought back again and struck again two minutes later via Giménez from a cross for 3-3.

Feyenoord had the best chances and had countless opportunities to decide the game. But each time one found NEC goalie Mattijs Branderhorst at Feyenoord, who made no fewer than 23 (!) saves. However, even the NEC goalie had no answer to Dilrosun’s beautiful shot, who curled the ball into the intersection from the side of the penalty area.

Feyenoord seemed to decide it, but NEC fought back again. From a long throw-in, an outlaw Bruijn got the ball at his feet. The midfielder shot the ball into the roof of the goal and with his goal in the 118th minute made it 4-4 and a penalty shootout.

Feyenoord, which shot no less than fifty (!) times on target, did better than NEC. The team from Nijmegen missed the fourth penalty kick through Ilias Bronkhorst: 5-4.

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