Feyenoord hosted RKC Waalwijk at De Kuip on Sunday in a match that, on paper, looked like a straightforward affair for the Rotterdam giants. However, football is rarely predictable, and this encounter proved to be a test of patience and resilience for the league leaders.
Feyenoord, fresh off a hard-fought Europa League draw against Roma, entered the match with the expectation of maintaining their lead in the Eredivisie. Arne Slot opted for a relatively strong lineup, mindful of the need to rotate players given their European commitments. Waalwijk, meanwhile, sat comfortably mid-table and were aiming to disrupt Feyenoord’s title aspirations.
The first half unfolded with Feyenoord dominating possession, pinning Waalwijk back into their own half. The home side probed and pressured, creating several half-chances but failing to break the deadlock. Waalwijk’s defense, organized and disciplined, frustrated Feyenoord’s attacking attempts. They were content to absorb pressure and look for opportunities to counter-attack.
The frustration within De Kuip grew as the clock ticked on. Feyenoord’s usually fluid attacking play seemed disjointed, with passes going astray and a lack of clinical finishing. Igor Paixão and Alireza Jahanbakhsh, starting wide, struggled to find space and influence the game effectively. Santiago Giménez, leading the line, was tightly marked and starved of service.
The second half followed a similar pattern. Feyenoord continued to dominate possession, but Waalwijk remained stubborn in defense. Slot made changes, bringing on fresh legs in the form of Oussama Idrissi and Javairô Dilrosun to inject pace and creativity into the attack. These substitutions did little to immediately change the complexion of the game. Waalwijk continued to frustrate the Rotterdam team.
Finally, in the 70th minute, Feyenoord found the breakthrough. A well-placed cross from the right found the head of Santiago Giménez, who expertly nodded the ball past the Waalwijk goalkeeper. The relief around De Kuip was palpable. Feyenoord had finally unlocked the Waalwijk defense.
With the lead secured, Feyenoord looked more comfortable. Waalwijk, forced to come out of their defensive shell, began to create a few chances of their own. However, Feyenoord’s defense held firm, and they managed to see out the game. While not a vintage performance, the victory was crucial for Feyenoord, maintaining their position at the top of the Eredivisie. The narrow win underlined the difficulty of any league match and the importance of grinding out results, particularly against well-organized and defensively minded opponents. Waalwijk, despite the loss, demonstrated their ability to frustrate even the best teams in the league.
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