October 14, 2026
Feyenoord has claimed the historic first victory for an Eredivisie side in this season’s UEFA Champions League campaign, overcoming ambitious Italian upstarts Como 1907 in a pulsating five-goal thriller at De Kuip. The Rotterdam club had to dig deep during a tense closing phase, but an inspired performance headlined by two-goal contributor Anis Hadj Moussa ultimately delivered a crucial three points on a dramatic European night.
The fixture began with a cagey, tactical opening as both sides felt each other out in front of a roaring home crowd. However, the deadlock was broken by the visitors when Como seized the initiative. Assane Diao demonstrated exceptional strength and determination on the left flank, winning a rigorous physical challenge against Feyenoord defender Javi Lopez. With the angle narrowing rapidly as he approached the penalty area, Diao unleashed a fierce, low drive that beat goalkeeper Tjark Ernst, putting the Italian side unexpectedly ahead and stunning the home supporters.
The setback, however, served as an immediate catalyst for the Dutch giants. Feyenoord displayed remarkable resilience and were level within two minutes of the restart. Midfielder Gjivai Zechiël showcased brilliant footwork on the edge of the penalty area, spinning away from his marker with effortless elegance before lofting a sublime, curling effort into the top corner of the net. The rapid response sent waves of relief and renewed belief through the stadium, wiping out Como’s lead almost before the visitors had time to settle into their defensive shape.
The momentum of the match shifted visibly following the equalizer. The visitors suffered a significant tactical and physical blow shortly thereafter when the opening goalscorer, Diao, was forced to limp off the pitch due to injury, disrupting Como’s attacking rhythm. Empowered by the opening phases, Feyenoord began to grow in confidence, dominating possession and probing the Italian defense with increasing frequency. Just before the half-time interval, full-back Givairo Read and Javi Lopez both came close to extending the hosts’ lead, forcing brilliant fingertip saves from Como goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to keep the score level heading into the break.
Feyenoord did not have to wait long after the restart to translate their territorial dominance into a tangible advantage. Seizing upon the first real opportunity of the second half, Anis Hadj Moussa received the ball on the right wing, cut sharply inside his defender, and drilled a precise, low shot into the bottom corner of Sanchez’s net, sending the home faithful into raptures and putting Feyenoord ahead for the first time in the match.
As the second half progressed, Como attempted to find a way back into the contest, pushing numbers forward and leaving spaces at the back that Feyenoord looked to exploit on the counter-attack. Ten minutes from the end of regulation time, Hadj Moussa effectively appeared to put the result beyond any doubt. The Algerian winger unleashed a powerful long-range effort that crashed violently against the goalpost; however, fortune favored the hosts as the rebound struck the back of the unfortunate goalkeeper Sanchez and ricocheted over the line, extending Feyenoord’s lead to 3-1 and seemingly wrapping up the contest.
Yet, European football rarely follows a predictable script, and Como refused to surrender quietly. Tasos Douvikas capitalized on a momentary lapse in concentration deep into injury time, pulling a goal back for the visitors with a sharp finish. The late strike ensured a deeply tense and frantic last few minutes of stoppage time, with Como throwing everything forward in search of an improbable equalizer. Despite the late pressure, Feyenoord’s defense held firm, and the final whistle confirmed a hard-fought and vital victory for the Rotterdam side.
Speaking after the final whistle, goalscorer Gjivai Zechiël reflected on the emotional and tactical trajectory of the match, highlighting how crucial his swift equalizer was for the team’s overall psychology. He noted that replying so quickly after Diao had given the visitors the lead completely altered the dynamic of the evening. That immediate response, he explained, instilled both the team on the pitch and the supporters in the stands with the collective belief and feeling that victory was inevitable.
Zechiël also reserved special praise for teammate Anis Hadj Moussa, whose brilliant individual quality proved to be the decisive factor in both of Feyenoord’s crucial second-half goals. Describing him as a top-class player, Zechiël expressed the dressing room’s immense satisfaction that the talented winger remains available to contribute to Feyenoord’s ambitions throughout the current campaign.
The hard-earned three points lift Feyenoord to 23rd place in the newly formatted 36-team Champions League table, providing a vital foothold in the elite European competition. With momentum on their side following this dramatic home victory, Feyenoord will now turn their immediate attention to domestic preparations before embarking on their next European assignment, a challenging away trip to face Spanish side Real Betis next Wednesday, October 21.
