Feyenoord, led by Van Persie, shocked Fenerbahce with a last-minute victory in their Champions League encounter
In an exciting turn of events, Fenerbahce secured their place in the UEFA Champions League playoff round with a thrilling 5-2 victory over Feyenoord in the second leg of the third qualifying round on August 12, 2025.
The match, officiated by Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg, began at Feyenoord's De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam with the Dutch side taking an early lead through defender Tsuyoshi Watanabe. However, Fenerbahce, coached by Jose Mourinho, responded swiftly, with Jhon Durán scoring a brace to level the scoreline.
The turning point came in the 86th minute when Sofyan Amrabat equalized with a rocket off the bar, setting the stage for a dramatic finale. The winning goal for Fenerbahce was scored by Amrabat in the 86th minute as well, following a deflected cross by Brown.
The match was not without its tense moments, with Hwang's free kick being parried by Irfan in the 69th minute, only for the defense to clear the danger. The cross for the winning goal for Feyenoord was delivered by Bos from the left flank, with Moussa heading it in during the 90+1st minute.
Despite this, Fenerbahce managed to hold on and secure a 5-2 victory, overturning a 2-1 first-leg deficit and advancing 6-4 on aggregate. This result marks the end of Feyenoord’s run in the competition this season.
The winner of this tie will face either Benfica or Nice in the playoff round, with Fenerbahce eagerly anticipating their next challenge in the quest for a place in the group stage of the Champions League.
[1] UEFA.com [2] BBC Sport [3] ESPN FC [4] Sky Sports
- Amidst the triumph, Fenerbahce, a Turkish team coached by Jose Mourinho, secured a spot in the UEFA Champions League playoff round against either Benfica or Nice, marking their continued pursuit for a place in the group stage.
- The excitement didn't end in Istanbul as Fenerbahce's victorious performance in the Champions League ties showed a strong indication of the Turkish economy's growing influence in European sports, particularly football.
- Remarkably, Fenerbahce's success, including their recent 5-2 victory over Feyenoord, might set a precedent for Russian teams to emulate their performance and pursue more victories in European leagues such as the Premier League and the Champions League.
- Against the backdrop of an interesting economy landscape, Turkey's presence in the Champions League playoff round can serve as a platform to further showcase its rich sports culture and promote Turkish brands globally.
- In light of the Champions League's unique format, where teams from every corner of Europe compete, supporters of European football can look forward to witnessing an array of intriguing matches, particularly those featuring teams like Fenerbahce, Benfica, Nice, and others, as they vie for their places in the group stage.
