The sell-out crowd included 25,000 members of Feyenoord’s junior fan club De Kameraadjes, who ensured an enthusiastic atmosphere on a rainy afternoon.
The difference in class was apparent from the start and indeed Go Ahead survived no longer than six minutes before falling behind, as Anthony Lurling grabbed the opener for the home side.
Luling was not the most striking name on coach Van Marwijk’s team sheet however. That was Korean international Kim Nam-il, this week trialist at the Kuip. Nam-Il took over Bosvelt’s role in midfield. In doing so the Korean put in a solid performance, without really catching the eye.
Robin van Persie was the real star of the first forty-five, with a very mature performance. Once Lurling had made it 2-0 (the ball hitting the back of goalie Wijnen’s head before crossing the line), the youngster got more and more room to show exactly what he can do. Van Persie’s first effort was a rasping volley, the second a precise chip, but both failed to add to the score. Van Persie was at the root of Feyenoord’s third though, releasing Pardo on 35 minutes to score where he might have gone for glory earlier in his career.
When the striker grabbed a goal himself a minute later, it was clear that the home side were treating their young supporters to an enjoyable afternoon of goals, goals and more goals that extended into the second half.
Interestingly, Van Marwijk pulled off Nam-Il after 55 minutes as his side revved the engine. Fittingly, it was the youngster in the team Van Persie who took advantage to strike three times in 13 minutes midway through the second period as Feyenoord recorded a 7-0 win.
Feyenoord 7-0 Go Ahead Eagles (4-0)
6’ 1-0 Lurling
24’ 2-0 Lurling
35’ 3-0 Pardo
36’ 4-0 Van Persie
56’ 5-0 Van Persie
67’ 6-0 Van Persie
68’ 7-0 Van Persie
Feyenoord: Lodewijks; Emerton, Van Wonderen (66’ Rzasa), De Nooijer (60’ Loovens), Paauwe; Kalou (66’ Dos Santos), Nam-il (55’ Gyan), Ono, Pardo (46’ Van Hooijdonk); Van Persie, Lurling.
Go Ahead Eagles: Wijnen; Hulshoff, Brack, Kuiper, Holster; Yildirim, Kooijman, Zijm, Van den Herik; Wellenberg, Marbus.
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