FEYENOORD LUCKILY PROGRESS TO EUROPA FINAL OVER MARSEILLE DUE TO FIRST LEG WIN AS SECOND LEG ENDS IN A STALEMATE.
Feyenoord progressed to the UEFA Europa Conference League final, as a goalless draw on the night secured a 3-2 aggregate victory over Olympique de Marseille to reach their first European final in 20 years.
Marseille started brightly in a bid to overturn a one-goal deficit inside an electric Stade Vélodrome. Amine Harit picked out Dimitri Payet, whose shot was blocked by Marcos Senesi inside the box. The former West Ham man was involved in the thick of the action again at the end of a lovely free-flowing move, but curled an effort over the bar after being allowed to cut inside the Feyenoord defence. However, that proved to be his final action of the game after picking up an innocuous muscle injury attempting to play a pass and was replaced by Arkadiusz Milik. His withdrawal seemed to lift Feyenoord, as Guus Til and Cyriel Dessers both saw their efforts blocked in a strong end to the half for ‘De Stadionclub’.
‘Les Olympiens’ upped the ante at the start of the second half, as Valentin Rongier was allowed to cut in off the right flank only to see his shot comfortably saved by Ofir Marciano. Chances were few and far between for Feyenoord, but Gernot Trauner was inches away from opening his account for the club with a shot that just cleared the target after being teed up by Reiss Nelson.
Jorge Sampaoli’s side were desperate for a goal and Pol Lirola’s shot went a whisker wide, with Feyenoord holding onto their slender advantage. Cengiz Ünder was brought on from the bench and looked to make an immediate impact by picking out William Saliba from a set-piece, but the defender headed wide at the far post. Substitute Alireza Jahanbakhsh looked to end the contest once and for all, but Steve Mandanda was on hand to make a fine one-handed save.
Arne Slot’s side held on for an aggregate victory, and will now face Roma at the Arena Kombëtare in Tirana on May 25 in a bid to become the inaugural winners of the competition. Meanwhile, Marseille now turn their attention back to Ligue 1 in a quest to nail down second place and a guaranteed place in next season’s Champions League group stages.
