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View the summary of Feyenoord-Heerenveen
Feyenoord won the Premier League match with SC Heerenveen 3-0 without any problems. The Rotterdammers can now prepare for the Champions League cracker with the ailing Manchester City next Tuesday.
Calvin Stengs made his return after a serious knee injury, which had kept him sidelined since the beginning of September. But the biggest smile in De Kuip came from standout Igor Paixão.
The Brazilian, who extended his contract this week, was involved in all of Feyenoord’s goals in his hundredth game for the club. “I’m starting to get used to the cold weather,” he said afterwards. “I am happy at Feyenoord.”
The match between Feyenoord and Heerenveen was mainly dominated by the return of Robin van Persie to De Kuip, but now as trainer of the Frisians.
It was not a pleasant reunion, if only because the reception would have felt a lot less warm due to the persistent chilly rain.
On the field, Paixão in particular warmed the hearts of the legion. The Brazilian dribbler was involved in all three Feyenoord goals.
Halfway through the first half, he made a nice move to serve Argentinian striker Julián Carranza, who beat Heerenveen goalkeeper Andries Noppert with a seemingly tenable shot.
Ten minutes later, Paixão again dribbled through the Heerenveen defense. After a one-two and a shot from the Brazilian, Carranza failed to score his second, but in the end it was Anis Hadj-Moussa who scored at the far post.
However, Hadj-Moussa had to wait a while before cheering, because Carranza seemed to have been offside during his effort. In consultation with the VAR, referee Jeroen Manschot ruled that this was not the case: 2-0.
Retirement Stengs
There was not much to enjoy for a long time in the second half, unless it was Stengs’ return. The attacking midfielder returned after a knee injury, which kept him out for 13 games.
Stengs immediately tried with a nice lob over the tall Noppert, but saw the ball sail past.
Paixão puts Feyenoord 3-0 after a beautiful assist by Zechiël
Paixão provided a nice final score, by scoring the 3-0 on the instructions of substitute Gjivai Zechiël (a nice heel).
Afterwards, Van Persie was once again passionately sung to in the stadium where he once made his debut. That was just a plaster on the wound: “I have had nicer evenings in De Kuip. I expected and hoped for more.”
Still, he enjoyed the acclaim. “That was a special moment.”
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