Feyenoord Falls to Westerlo in Friendly Match
Behind closed doors and far from the usual Rotterdam noise, Feyenoord were handed a sharp reminder on Monday that rhythm is still missing. A mixed XI lost 2-1 to Belgian side KVC Westerlo, despite an early goal from Shaqueel van Persie.
The youngster, son of club legend Robin van Persie, struck first. He reacted quickest to a Sem Steijn corner, attacking the ball and finishing decisively to give Feyenoord the lead. It was the sort of instinctive touch supporters are desperate to see more of.
The advantage didn’t last. Westerlo found an equaliser before the break and gradually wrestled control of the game. Feyenoord, who had started with the players that had been on the bench in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Go Ahead Eagles, never quite settled after that shift in momentum.
On the touchline, it was Sipke Hulshoff and Saïd Bakkati directing traffic, not Giovanni van Bronckhorst. The head coach watched his assistants handle proceedings as squad players and fringe options tried to stake their claim.
The changes came early in the second half. Casper Tengstedt and Jivayno Zinhagel replaced Van Persie and Jordan Lotomba, while an hour into the contest Luka Ivanusec was sent on down the right flank in place of Gonçalo Borges. Fresh legs, but no change to the scoreline.
Westerlo struck again after the restart to turn the game around, and from there Feyenoord chased. The Dutch side pushed late, with Tengstedt twice presented with chances to level the match. Both openings went begging. The final whistle left Feyenoord on the wrong side of a narrow defeat and with a few more questions than answers.
Now the friendly tune-up is over. The spotlight swings straight back to the Vriendenloterij Eredivisie. After dropping costly points in the 2-2 draw with Go Ahead Eagles, Feyenoord head to promoted SC Cambuur on Sunday — a side still searching for their first point after two rounds.
For a team with title ambitions, anything less than a ruthless response in Leeuwarden will invite real doubt.
