Feyenoord 1 - 3 Real Madrid
Real Madrid lineup: Casillas - Salgado, Hierro, Helguera, Roberto Carlos - Guti, Makélélé, Zidane, Cambiasso - Figo, Raúl.
Feyenoord lineup: Zoetebier - Gyan, Van Wonderen, Paauwe, Rzasa - Emerton, Bosvelt, Ono, Lurling - Kalou, Van Hooijdonk.
Real began the match in ambitious mood, they've not won the trophy in their two previous appearances against Chelsea and Galatasaray, and they looked sharp and hungry as the superstars of Europe went on the hunt for the one trophy they've yet to add to their collection. Tonight's match is their first real test as they prepare for the start of the new Spanish Primera División season but they started as if they'd been playing top teams for weeks. It took only 15 minutes for Roberto Carlos to slide the ball across goal and for an unhappy Patrick Pauuwe to see the ball bounce off his boot, as he tried to block the pass, and disappear behind Edwin Zoetbier. Feyenoord were going to have to show how much they've really grown these last 18 months if they were to make an impression on these European giants. Unfortunately for them Real were ready to put on a display of absolute top-flight world football! Roberto Carlos was both instigator and finisher of a blurringly-fast move which ended with a blinder of a goal in the 21st, his foot connecting with the ball in a show of deadly assurance as it swept into the top right-hand corner. With such an imposing display of football one can only try to imagine what the hell they will be like when Ronaldo is added to the team??!! After losing their way for the next 10 minutes Feyenoord began to show their renowned character again and launched some threatening moves toward the Real end. Anthony Lurling made the most impressive move of the match (and his best since arriving at the Kuip) for the Rotterdammers in the 39th but his shot went just wide while Paul Bosvelt blasted one over in the 42nd as the Dutch team tried to exert pressure. Feyenoord must have been wondering what had hit them as they went into the dressing-room at half-time.
They were clearly over the shock of the opening half as the 2nd act got underway with some much improved passing of the ball and a real semblance of self-confidence. In the 55th they launched another attacking move which Paul Bosvelt almost managed to round off with a ball-in-the net, but it landed on the roof of the goal. Feyenoord got a freekick anyway for an earlier 'offence' which Pierre van Hooijdonk magicked over the wall, as he's done so often, in the 56th. A real beauty! The joy of the Feyenoord fans didn't last long as only four minutes later the Rotterdammers' defence was once more clinically sliced open for Guti to head in at the left-post for the 3-1. Van Marwijk's team were not going to bow their heads, however, and the 3rd goal spurred them on to push forward. Ono fired off a shot in the 64th that went just wide of the mark and P-Air had another chance from another freekick in the 66th but it came from too far out to worry or deceive Casillas. Lurling continued to worry the Real defence in what is undoubtedly his best performance so far while the Rotterdammers refused to lie down and gave their expected-all for the fans who'd travelled to Monaco. Despite the entry of substitute Thomas Buffel, who'd earned the applause of Fenerbahçe fans earlier in the week with his fine goal, and a continuing show of Rotterdam-spirit it proved a bridge-too-far for Feyenoord against the uncontested top team of Europe tonight but they can be proud of their performance and they will have learned much to take with them into the Champions League and the Ere Divisie.
Thanks to FootballNL