Feyenoord beats Go Ahead and is Dutch champion again after six years
NOS Football–
Watch the summary of Feyenoord – Go Ahead Eagles
Feyenoord became Dutch champions for the sixteenth time in a buzzing Kuip. The Rotterdammers won 3-0 over Go Ahead Eagles, grabbing their first national title since 2017, two games before the end, on the day six years ago.
It is the chronicle of an announced championship. With the 3-2 win two months back over arch-rival Ajax in Amsterdam, Feyenoord struck a big blow, only to not relinquish it afterwards. The first “match point,” as success coach Arne Slot described it last week, was cashed in immediately today.
Even well before kickoff, championship fever was palpable in Rotterdam. Precisely because this title was so imminent. Hours before the match, the Stadhuisplein was already red and white with Feyenoord shirts and the first fans dared to make a splash in the fountain at Hofplein, specially cleaned by the municipality.
Biggest banner ever
At De Kuip, supporters unpacked the largest banner ever displayed in a Dutch soccer stadium: 1,100 square meters in size, 550 meters long and countless hours of work, financed by their own fundraising campaign among the fans.
After the “My Feyenoord” had sounded from Lee Towers’ golden microphone, the mega banner was brought out.
‘Biggest action ever’: mega banner is unveiled at De Kuip
‘Feyenoord, Feyenoord, what are we going to do today? We are going to win, only with how much is the question’ could be read throughout the stadium. It is the lyrics to a 30-year-old song by Cock van der Palm, which is unprecedentedly popular in the Rotterdam stands this season.
Feyenoord soon on a roll
After all the atmospheric action, the game on the pitch had to get going for a while. It made for a quiet Kuip, until Oussama Idrissi made it 1-0 within fifteen minutes. On a pass from Mats Wieffer. The “Arne, Arne, we are going to be champions” went around the stadium immediately after that. The first tears were already flowing.
The championship celebration could begin in full when Santiago Giménez popped the 2-0 against the ropes three minutes later. Igor Paixão sent the Mexican club’s top scorer away with a fine ball over the Go Ahead defense. Giménez shot high into the goal: his fifteenth league goal.
Feyenoord slowed down and got away well when Eagles captain Bas Kuipers was brought down in the penalty area by Feyenoord player Marcus Pedersen. There was clear contact, but both referee Allard Lindhout and the video referee did not see a penalty. Shortly after, Wieffer almost headed in his own goal.
Highlight Paixão
After a lackluster start to the second half – the spoils were in for Feyenoord – Paixão provided a highlight. With his back to goal, the Brazilian turned away from his opponent with his right foot to curl the ball into the top corner with his left: 3-0.
The cue for coach Slot to allow substitutes to come in. When fellow coach René Hake in turn made a quadruple substitution, the game in the sunny Kuip resembled summer evening soccer. The great enjoyment on the pitch, in the stands and in the Rotterdam city center was no less.
The Feyenoord of Slot and the outstanding captain Orkun Kökçü lost only once in the premier league this season and the last 12 games were all won. As champions, Feyenoord will enter the Champions League next year.
