Feyenoord On Top In Five-Goal Champions League Thriller

In a chaotic Champions League clash, Feyenoord secured their first win of the campaign with a 3-2 victory over Girona. Two own goals and missed penalties from both sides defined the unpredictable encounter.

Antoni Milambo netted Feyenoord’s only goal, with the other two coming courtesy of the Girona defenders. Despite the frenzy, Feyenoord emerged victorious and now have three points from their first two group stage matches.

The game got off to a high-stakes start for Feyenoord as manager Brian Priske placed his trust in Spanish defender Hugo Bueno, who returned to the lineup after recovering from a muscle injury. However, it was Tim Beelen, still shaking off the disappointment of a recent error that led to a 1-1 draw against NEC, who would once again come under scrutiny. Early in the game, Beelen’s mistake gifted Girona’s Viktor Tsygankov an opportunity, but Feyenoord goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther kept his side in the game with a crucial save.

Girona’s historic first-ever Champions League goal came in the 20th minute when a corner kick found its way to defender David López, who pounced to make it 1-0. The Spanish side’s joy was short-lived, however, as Feyenoord equalized just two minutes later. A well-delivered cross from Igor Paixao was met by Quinten Timber, whose header ricocheted off Girona midfielder Yangel Herrera and into the net for a fortuitous own goal.

Ten minutes later, Feyenoord capitalized on a defensive mistake from Girona. After David López, who had earlier been the hero, misplayed a pass, Paixao intercepted and set up Antoni Milambo for a clean finish. Milambo calmly sent Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga the wrong way to give Feyenoord a 1-2 lead.

Girona’s defensive woes continued as another costly turnover handed Feyenoord a golden opportunity to extend their lead. Gazzaniga, attempting to play the ball out from the back, saw his pass intercepted by Timber, who was promptly fouled by Ivan Martin in the box, leading to a penalty. However, Ayase Ueda’s effort was poor, and Gazzaniga made amends by saving the spot-kick.

Not to be outdone in terms of errors, Feyenoord’s Wellenreuther also found himself at the centre of a penalty incident. After mishandling a cross from Bryan Gil, Wellenreuther fouled Bojan Miovski in his attempt to recover the situation. However, like his counterpart, he redeemed himself by saving Miovski’s penalty, keeping the score at 1-2.

Girona’s Dutch contingent came to the rescue in the second half. Arnaut Danjuma danced past three Feyenoord defenders before playing the ball across the face of goal to fellow Dutchman Donny van de Beek, who tapped in to make it 2-2. The match, already an emotional rollercoaster, took another twist.

With just over ten minutes left in the match, Feyenoord took the lead once more—this time benefiting from yet another own goal. A cross from David Hancko was deflected into the Girona net by Ladislav Krejci, restoring Feyenoord’s advantage at 2-3. Girona’s defenders, who had gifted two goals to their opponents, seemed to be their own worst enemies on the night.

Feyenoord nearly extended their lead immediately after, when Hwang In-Beom delivered a perfect cross to Jordan Lotomba, but his header bounced off the ground and went wide of the target, keeping the tension high.

The drama continued right until the final whistle. Girona was convinced they had earned a penalty in the dying moments when the ball struck Julian Carranza’s arm inside the Feyenoord box. However, after a lengthy VAR check, Swiss referee Urs Schnyder decided against awarding the penalty and blew the final whistle, sealing Feyenoord’s dramatic 2-3 win.

Feyenoord’s victory means they now sit on three points after two games in the Champions League group stage, having lost their opener to Bayer Leverkusen last week. Their next challenge in Europe will be against Portuguese giants Benfica. Meanwhile, Girona, who are making their debut in the competition, have lost both of their matches and will be desperate to turn things around in their upcoming fixtures.

The chaotic nature of this match will long be remembered, with Feyenoord’s luck and Girona’s misfortune combining to produce a thrilling spectacle. Despite the two own goals and missed opportunities, Feyenoord can take heart from their resilience and determination to leave Spain with all three points.