PHOTO – TASR/AP

ROTTERDAM – Feyenoord‘s epic 3-2 UEFA Cup final triumph over Borussia Dortmund not only ended a seven-year drought for Dutch teams in Europe, but also gave their fans something to celebrate following the national side‘s failure to reach the World Cup finals. Although they had the numerical advantage after Dortmund‘s Juergen Kohler was sent off after 31 minutes, Feyenoord battled for every tackle and every ball and, in the end, deserved their victory in a thrilling game against the battling Germans. The fact that the opening two goals were scored by a Dutchman – Pierre Van Hooijdoink – only added to the ecstasy at Feyenoord‘s home De Kuip stadium at the end of an emotional night.

Eight of the 14 players used on the night were Dutch, and were inspired by a superb performance from Van Hooijdonk. He took his goal tally for the season to 33 with a 33rd-minute penalty and a brilliantly struck 40th-minute free-kick and could have had a hat-trick but hit a post with another free-kick before he opened the scoring. Feyenoord coach Bert van Marwijk added: „Our performances internationally have not been so good and we are not going to the World Cup so this is a big positive for Dutch football.“

Wednesday‘s victory was Feyenoord‘s third European success, but their first for 28 years. They have never lost a European final. They also became the first Dutch side to win the UEFA Cup twice and took the Netherlands‘s overall total of European victories to 11. Dane Jon Dahl Tomasson, who scored Feyenoord‘s third goal in his last match before his move to AC Milan was voted Man of the Match. Dutch goalkeeper Edwin Zoetebier, who celebrated his 32nd birthday on Tuesday, did not put a foot wrong. He could do nothing about either goal – Marcio Amoroso‘s 47th-minute penalty or Jan Koller‘s stunning 58th-minute rocket which was unstoppable. Feyenoord now have the European Super Cup match to look forward to. The only disappointment for Feyenoord‘s fans is that a planned civic celebration through the streets of Rotterdam has been cancelled following the murder of the Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn.

Reuters