U23 Report: Saints 1-2 Feyenoord

A deflected Achraf El Bouchataoui own goal had given Saints the lead in the 41^st minute, meaning the home side went in at the break ahead.

But goals from Feyenoord’s Noah Naujoks and Wouter Burger meant the Dutch side came away with the three points at Staplewood.

The first half was an evenly contested affair between the two sides, with the Dutch visitors just shading the better of the chances.

Saints had both Kayne Ramsay and Aaron O’Driscoll to thank for some last-ditch challenges to deny Burger and El Bouchataoui respectively for the visitors.

But the home side remained in contention, going close through Harlem Hale after 36 minutes following a set piece routine which fell kindly, resulting in a smart save from Feyenoord’s Nick Marsman.

It became apparent that it would take a stroke of fortune for either side to break the deadlock, and luck was on Saints’ side with the first goal of the game in the closing stages of the opening 45 minutes.

Christian Norton made a terrific run into the box, beating his full-back to create space to find a cross.

Searching for a team-mate in the middle, his aerial ball was deflected off of Feyenoord’s El Bouchataoui, who headed over his keeper and into his own net.

With chances remaining at a premium after the restart, it took until almost the hour-mark for the game to produce its latest opportunity. 

Finding further joy down the flanks, Ramsay made a great run down the right-wing and looked in on goal before Feyenoord keeper Marsman came rushing out, causing a collision and ultimately the substitute of the visiting stopper through injury in the 57th minute. 

Despite that setback, Less than 180 seconds later the Dutch side levelled the scores; substitute Naujoks broke through the Saints defence to chip Tommy Scott and make it 1-1 on the hour mark. 

Chances continued to be few and far between during the second half, the visitors having the better of the efforts with both Marouan Azarkan and El Bouchataoui going close.

Eventually, with less than 10 minutes to go, Feyenoord got their second; Burger breaking down the right flank and firing over Scott to make it 2-1.

Saints looking to reclaim a foothold in the game attempted to break down the visitors’ defence on several occasions; substitute Kornelius Hansen firing just wide of the near post in the 88th minute after a great run.

It was a sea of red and white during the five minutes of stoppage time, but ultimately to no avail for Southampton.