Dunfermline Athletic (2) 2 Feyenoord (2) 8
7th October 2000
Friendly
By Douglas Scott

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 Bossen, Russian internationalist Igor Korneev and Ivory Coast star Bonadventura Kalou.

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.

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 collect 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 dispossed 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.

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 Dieren 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 Bossen 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 (2) 2 FEYENOORD (2) 8

DUNFERMLINE: 4-4-2: Ruitenbeek (Thomson HT); Doesburg (Graham 60), Skinner (Martin 85), Thomson, McGroarty; Dair, Nicholson (May 77), Moss, Mendes; Crawford, Bullen (Boyle 70).
Subs not used: Nish, Nicol
Scorer: Mendes (37), Moss (42)
Yellow Cards: none
Strip: Home: Black & White

FEYENOORD: 4-5-1: Malkowski; Van Gobbel, Van Wonderen, De Haan (Van Dieren 72), Tininho; Kalou (Leonardo 80), De Visser, Jochemsen, Korneev (Olfers 72), Van Bossen; Smolarek (Somaila 60)
Scorers: De Visser (13), Kalou (16, 51, 72), Somalia (80), Van Dieren (84), Jochemsen (85), Van Bossen (88)
Subs not used: Paauwe, Varkevisser
Manager: Bert Van Marwijk
Yellow Cards: None

Referee: T Brown (Edinburgh)
Attendance: 3846

Weather: Cold, Rain
Next Match v Kilmarnock (away) Saturday 14th October

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