Dunfermline 2 Feyenoord 8

Saturday, 7th Oct 2000

Friendly
DAFC: Mendes, Moss
Feyenoord: De Vissier, Kalou 3, Somalia, Van Dieran, Jochemsen, Van Vossen

Sammy the Tammy came up with his usual innovative stage show this time choosing his version of the Dutch finger in the dyke story. Unfortunately Feyenoord stormed the park with the flood gates opening for the last ten minutes.

This much talked about fixture against the Dutch League leaders kept the home fans in touch with their team who have a five week break between home SPL games. With Andrius Skerla on international duty in Lithuania and Ian Ferguson omitted because suspension means Dunfermline will have to play their next two matches without him, there were starting places for Jason Dair and Chris McGroarty.

If numbers are anything to go by Feyenoord fielded only two of their first 11 although the team they fielded Dutch internationalists Kees van Wonderen and Peter Van Vossen, Russian internationalist Igor Korneev and Ivory Coast star Bonadventura Kalou.

Feyenoord started briskly playing towards the Norrie McCathie Stand. Their first chance materialised out of two missed midfield tackles as Van Bossen provided Smolarek with a shot which Ruitenbeek did well to keep out. The same two combined again immediately to rip the Pars defence apart and Korneev`s shot hit off the crossbar. Korneev again, was next to see his shot deflected over the crossbar and Kalou had a header scrambled away.

A goal was all that was missing and after just 13 minutes Smolarek`s header split defenders Doesburg and Skinner and DE VISSER made no mistake to net. Dunfermline took up the challenge and right away Jason Dair got deep into the penalty box and picked out Steve Crawford but his shot from 6 yards was deflected behind.

Van Bossen chipped one over the crossbar before Feyenoord played pinball into the Dunfermline penalty box and KALOU slotted right footed into the Pars net. At this stage to did look as though the Dutch were going to continue this with regularity but Dunfermline came back into the game.

Junior Mendes collected a throw out from Marco Ruitenbeek and ran at Feyenoord, covering the length of the park as he exchanged passes with Crawford and McGroarty before finding Dair with a cross to the right. Dair` s shot was closer to the corner flag than net but the move rallied the cause.

On the right Doesburg took a return from Mendes to cross for David Moss. The Englishman`s header slipped past the right post as Crawford raced in. Mossy then produced a great touch to put through Chris McGroarty in on goal but his shot went wide. Skinner was dispossessed by Smolarek and Ruitenbeek did well to tip the ball wide as Feyenoord proved they had to be watched.

Then with 8 minutes to half time wide on the left of the Feyenoord defence Junior played the ball deep to Michel Doesburg who cut the ball sharply back to MENDES and he drove a low angled shot into the net.

Five minutes later Jason Dair and Crawford controlled the play again on the right side of the Dunfermline attack and Crawford slid the ball back to Dair whose cross found the unmarked David MOSS on the six yard line and his header gave Malkowski no chance.

Two all at half time certainly flattered the Pars as it was 2-2 going on at least 4-2 on pressure, possession and threat. But it is goals that count and Dunfermline`s were worthy efforts.

Half time: Dunfermline 2 Feyenoord 2

Scott Thomson replaced Ruitenbeek in goals for the second 45. After one flurry forward involving Bullen, Doesburg and another Dair effort, KALOU manufactured a goal all on his own on 51 minutes. He first shrugged off the midfield challenges of Nicholson and May before motoring through the centre of the defence and fired past the helpless Thomson.

Dair and Crawford carved out the chance for Doesburg to cross from the right but it was too far for Moss to get to. Moss had a header past the post as both sides contemplated introducing new faces. Junior Mendes should have scored on 70 minutes but the keeper came up with a tremendous save and Moss` follow up went wide.

Instead of equalising and getting back into the match things went the other way. Somalia and Korneev worked the ball along the 18 yard line to KALOU who turned and hit a third goal for his hattrick. Van Bossen amused with two attempts; one that went over the bar and another that fell left.

At 4-2 it looked respectable but then as Calderwood chopped and changed the format to accommodate three substitutes Feyenoord poured on the punishment. Firstly the Brazilian SOMALIA`s one man effort beat off Skinner to place the ball past Thomson. Secondly, Van DIERAN cannoned in a loose ball in the box. Thirdly Somalia`s cross from the left was headed in by JOCHEMSEN and fourthly, and thankfully lastly, Peter VAN VOSSEN twisted around Dair and fired in from 18 yards.

Feyenoord were a quick and skillful side whose strong running with the ball at their feet was both a real threat and real treat.

On the negative side the crowd of under 4000 against a class footballing team at home with only ?5 to get in suggests that it is not the price that is wrong with Scottish football but lack of demand. Supporters will need to be wooed with more than just low prices.

DUNFERMLINE: Marco Ruitenbeek (Scott Y Thomson HT): Michel Doesburg (David Graham 60), Jason Dair, Justin Skinner (Craig Martin 86), Scot Thomson, Junior Mendes, Stevie Crawford, Lee Bullen (Stephen Boyle 70), David Moss, Barry Nicholson (Eddie May 78), Chris McGroarty
SUBS NOT USED: Colin Nish, Keir Nicol
SCORERS: Mendes, Moss

FEYENOORD: Zbignieuw Makowski: Tininho, Kees Van Wonderen, Ferry De Haan (Van Dieran 79), Jan De Vissier, Arco Jochemsen, Igor Krneev (Olfers 71), Van Vossen, Bonadventura Kalou (Leonardo 79), Ulrich Van Gobbel, Smolarek (Somalia 75)
SUBS NOT USED: Patrick Paauwe, Cor Varkevisser (GK)
SCORERS: De Vissier, Kalou 3, Somalia, Van Dieran, Jochemsen, Van Vossen

REFEREE: Tom Brown
WEATHER:
ATTENDANCE

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