U19s coach Sergi Runge made three changes to the team that had started the weekend’s goalless draw away at Borussia Mönchengladbach as Ferdinand Pohl, Hawighorst and Artem Stepanov came in for Isaiah Eichie, Nils Gernhardt and Ken Izekor, who all dropped to the bench. After an initial spell of getting to grips with each other, the Dutch hosts started to up the pressure, including an attempted chip from the lively Givairo Read – regularly a part of Feyenoord’s senior squad – early on.
At the other end, Stepanov was caught narrowly offside from an Onyeka pass, while Karim Alajbegovic had the best chance of the opening quarter of an hour when denied from a tight angle. Hawighorst did better in the 22nd minute, though, when the left-back was found by Francesco Buono on the overlap before finishing into the far corner from left of centre. It was quick breaks and runs like those that posed the greatest issue to the Dutch side’s defence. Their best chance in the first half saw Jesper Schlich produce a save from Zepiqueno Redmond just before the break.
The hosts made a tactical switch at half-time with a centre-back on for a striker. However, the first opportunity after the restart fell to Leverkusen through Alajbegovic, before Onyeka went one better in the 63rd minute to turn in a corner and double the advantage with managing director for sport Simon Rolfes watching on from the stands. Feyenoord kept going, though, and got a goal back from Ouarghi, who picked out the corner with 11 minutes to go. The Dutch side pushed hard for an equaliser in the closing moments, but Bayer 04 held on for a deserved three points in Rotterdam.
Runge was unsurprisingly pleased with the result and also explained how the opening goal came about: “We want to play with a solid defence and expected Feyenoord to press us high. It meant we often had space behind their back line. We wanted to use that, like we did at the first goal.” The Spaniard also praised his team’s battling display: “We’re very pleased. The boys worked hard together, but that’s nothing new with them. They know they need each other and need to support each other. The mental strain was big for the boys because it’s all been a bit new. Now the pressure’s gone after this first game and we can enjoy the rest of the day and the senior team’s game. Tomorrow we’ll then turn to preparing for our next challenge at the weekend.”
Match stats:
Feyenoord: Ka - Read (Mparaganda 60'), Giersthove, Plug, Arnaud - Elshout Van Den, El Harmouz (Hoepel 74'), Ouarghi - Sliti (Otte 84'), Neijenhuis (Sebbar 46'), Redmond
Bayer 04: Schlich – Raterink, Pohl, Ndi, Hawighorst (Kister 60') - N. Mensah, Buono (Eichie 81') - Culbreath, Onyeka, Alajbegovic (Gernhardt 71') - Stepanov (Izekor 81')
Goals: 0-1 Hawighorst (22'), 0-2 Onyeka (63'), 1-2 Ouarghi (79')
Yellow cards: Sebbar, Ouarghi - Buono, Ndi, N. Mensah
Referee: Jamie Robinson (Northern Ireland)
Attendance: 1,050 at Varkenoord
With seven points, Mainz 05 are currently joint seventh, level on points with sixth-placed Bayer 04. In today’s head-to-head clash (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself must be particularly wary of the clinical Mainz strike duo. For Leverkusen fans who have left it to the last minute, there are still a few tickets available from the matchday ticket office. Those following the Black and Reds from home, on the other hand, have a choice: RTL is broadcasting the match on free-to-air TV, and Werkself Radio is also offering the expert commentary of former Bayer 04 player Falko Götz. Today’s matchday news.
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