Feyenoord beat Union Berlin to earn second UECL win
Feyenoord retained their leading position in Europa Conference League Group E on a spectacular night of European football at De Kuip on Thursday. Visitors FC Union Berlin were floored 3-1 with the home goals coming from Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Bryan Linssen and Luis Sinisterra.
The hosts started strongly in front of a sell-out crowd at De Kuip and the attacking mindset of Arne Slot’s team was rewarded after just 11 minutes. Alireza Jahanbakhsh benefited from some magic from Luis Sinisterra, who beat his man with a shimmy before putting the ball into the box. Orkun Kökcü played a part in getting it to the feet of the Iranian, who finished coolly from a few meters out.
Feyenoord doubled their lead on 29 minutes. Bryan Linssen beat his man to clear the way to the goal, placing his shot out of the keeper’s reach. But the Germans countered with a goal of their own just six minutes later, as Taiwo Awoniyi netted with his head from a cross after Feyenoord failed to clear a corner.
With the lead back down to a single goal Feyenoord’s main aim was to shut the game down and ensure Union Berlin were unable to claw a way back to parity. In the end it was Feyenoord that claimed the fourth goal of the evening. With 76 minutes on the clock, the hosts played the ball around patiently, pulling the German defence hither and thither. When they ultimately got the ball into the box, Luis Sinisterra was first to react, sliding in to settle things.
Next up for Feyenoord is a trip to SC Cambuur in the Eredivisie (kick-off 12:15 CET).