Feyenoord ease past titleholders Sevilla to qualify for KO round of Europa League
Feyenoord secured their passage to the Europa League round of 32 on Thursday with a 2-0 win over titleholders Sevilla in Rotterdam.
On a riotous night in the Netherlands, the home side cashed in with goals from Jens Toornstra and Karim El Ahmadi putting them through as a result of Rijeka beating Standard Liege.
The atmosphere at De Kuip was electric in the second half and Sevilla appeared to freeze in the face of some intense enthusiasm from the terraces.
The fans had to generate the excitement themselves in the first instance, though, with the game initially failing to catch fire.
After a gentile start, chances started to arrive after the quarter-of-an-hour mark.
Jordy Clasie had the first of them, driving in a shot that Sergio Rico got behind.
Feyenoord continued to press and John-Paul Boetius had a shot charged down by the visiting defence.
The action slowed right back down after that burst, though, and it was not until just before the break that opportunities started to present themselves once more.
Toornstra was off target for the home side, while at the other end Sevilla woke up and Jose Reyes had an effort charged down.
But the hosts would finish the half the stronger, Rico again in action to repel Clasie.
Feyenoord had been the better side and made good of that 10 minutes into the second half.
Good work from Colin Kazim Richards on the left set up a chance in the box, Boetius showed good feet to open the area up and, after passing to his right, saw Toornstra do the rest from 10 yards.
Gregorz Krychowiak led a Sevilla response with a long-ranger that Kenneth Vermeer pushed away.
Stephane Mbia then thought he had levelled from close range but his effort was ruled out on account of a number of his team-mates having been flagged offside.
Boetius could have put Feyenoord out of sight shortly after that, getting one-one-one with Rico put sliding his shot just wide.
That miss would not matter, though, for with seven minutes left a corner was not properly cleared and fell to El Ahmadi, who rifled in from just inside the area.
Sevilla's chances of progressing now go forward to their final clash against Rijeka.
