Match summary:

This afternoon Feyenoord had to play against RKC Waalwijk at home in De Kuip. Looking at the stats it could be a comfortable day, but this season you never know what is going to happen at a Feyenoord game. Ghaly started in the midfield as we reported earlier, there was also one change during the last minutes before the beginning of the match: Schreuder was replaced by Gyan because of an injury he picked up during this weekend. So the match took place at 12.30 Dutch time, with again one minute silence: because of the death of Dutch Queen's Mother Juliana on Saturday.

During the first 30 seconds of the match Feyenoord got a huge opportunity to open the score early on, but Smolarek missed after RKC goalie Sinouh tipped the ball away and the ball went near the post. After that Feyenoord proceeded their offence with Kuyt almost scoring some seconds later, and not much later he hit the post, bad luck. But that wasn't enough to stop Feyenoord's offence with the match just 5 minutes under way, now Kuyt didn't fail and one-on-one with the RKC goalie he lobbed the ball into the net: 1-0 to Feyenoord. With the first half proceeding the Rotterdam squad got even more chances: Kuyt missed again, and Smolarek doing the same as he did at the beginning of the match. Also, Gyan, the defender who was brought into the squad at the last chance got 3 chances, one hitting the post. Buffel tried to do what Kuyt managed, but he failed, he lobbed the ball over the goalie, but it ended up missing. The first half saw Feyenoord completely dominate, with lots of chances and also the post stood in the way of a bigger score.

The 2nd half didn't have as much dangerous chances in front of the RKC goal. Still Feyenoord got their chances. In the 78th minute Ghaly played a through pass to Lazovic (who got into the squad in the second half replacing Thomas Buffel) who unfortunately did what wasn't rare today; he missed. There weren't any real RKC chances during the match, but a counter could have spoiled the 3-point party in Rotterdam, so the defence had to stay aware. With several minutes to go Lazovic had another big chance but again it was denied. So the match ended in a 1-0 score, what should have been a 6, 7 maybe even an 8-0!!

Match highlights:

First half:

Ghaly & Ono in the centre of midfield again

1st min. A REAL CHANCE FOR FEYENOORD STRAIGHT FROM THE KICK OFF! A through pass was made to Smolarek in the box, the attacker got in one on one situation with the keeper of RKC and tried to bury the ball past him. However, the keeper managed to turn the ball away for a corner.

4th min. GHALY ALMOST ASSISTED A GOAL FOR FEYENOORD! The Egyptian made an excellent run with the ball and laid it to Kuyt at the edge of the area. The latter sent a low shot with his right at goal but the ball came off the foot of the post and went out.

6th min. KUYT SCORE THE FIRST FOR FEYENOORD! A brilliant one-two between Kuyt and Smolarek at the edge of RKC's area ended with Kuyt being face to face with the keeper. The forward made no mistake and buried the ball superbly with his right into the top corner to make it 1-0 for Feyenoord.

12th min. Kuyt got the ball under pressure from RKC defence at the edge of the area, he sent it back to Hossam Ghaly in midfield and the Egyptian played it superbly to Lurling in the left wing. However, the latter couldn't cross the ball properly into the area.

16th min. An RKC forward tried a shot from outside Feyenoord's area but his shot went well wide.

17th min. TOMAS BUFFET SQUANDERED A REAL CHANCE FOR FEYENOORD! He received a terrific through pass which made him face to face with the keeper of RKC but his low shot went straight into the body of the stretched keeper.

20th min. Nice build up from Feyenoord ended with a low cross from Lurling from the left wing into the area, but the ball was cleared for a corer by the RKC defence.

21st min. Ghaly did well to intercept a pass in Feyenoord's half, he tried to make a run with the ball but he was blocked by defence.

24th min. Good run from Lurling in the left wing, he managed to take the ball past two defender but he was brought down in the end. The referee gave Feyenoord a free-kick but it came to nothing.

25th min. HOSSAM GHALY SHOWED GREAT COMPOSURE! The Egyptian intercepted a pass just outside RKC's area and tried a through pass to Kuyt in the area. However, Ghaly's through pass was hacked by RKC's last man!

28th min. TERRIBLE MISS FROM FEYENOORD'S SONG! Kuyt crossed the ball to him from the left wing and the player did well to stop the ball in the box but his left footed shot went wide!

30th min. Long range effort from RKC'S No.9 but his shot went just wide.

32nd min. ANOTHER REAL CHANCE WASTED! Feyenoord's forward Smolarek dribbled past his marker in the left wide of the area and sent a low pass to Kuyt in front of goal. However, Kuyt's shot was blocked on its way to the net by a defender!

34th min. Ghaly moved forward with the ball and spotted Kuyt free from marking in the left flan. The Egyptian sent a low pass to him but the referee whistled for offside on Kuyt. The player was clearly onside though!!

45th min. Half time: 1-0 to Feyenoord.

Second half:

50th min. Another clearance off the line from RKC's defence. Buffel lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper but it was blocked off the line by an opposing defender.

62nd min. Ghaly tried to clear he ball just outside his area but he totally missed it and it went to an RKC forward who blasted a shot at goal but luckily it sailed over the bar.

64th min. Ghaly got the ball under pressure from RKC's forwards in the left side of Feyenoord's area. However, the Egyptian dealt well with the situation and cleared the danger with a long clearance.

72nd min. Hossam Ghaly gave the ball away in midfield, he should be more careful with his passes.

74th min. Pressure from Rkc ended with a weak header at goal but Feyenoord's keeper managed to save it with ease.

76th min. Ghaly sent a through pass to Kuyt in the area but his pass was hacked by a defender on its way.

78th min. TERRIFIC THROUGH PASS FROM HOSSAM GHALY! The Egyptian received the ball from Van Persie and sent a great low through pass to Lazovic inside the box. The latter had only the keeper to beat but he placed it into the body of the keeper and the chance went begging.

Ghaly's passing was brilliant...

85th min. POST FOR FEYENOORD! Lazovic got a chance to settle the game, but his shot hit the post!

90th min. Full time: Feyenoord win 1-0!

The situation:

Now the gap between Feyenoord and PSV is 4 points, with 8 matches still to go. This weekend PSV wasted 2 points after clashing with NAC at home, and ending the match in a 1-1 score, so Feyenoord have a good chance to get Champions League. AZ are still just 1 point behind Feyenoord, so they can't make any mis-steps if they want to reach the CL. Knowing Feyenoord has got 5 home matches and 3 away, that has to be an advantage for the Rotterdammers compared to PSV. The top of the table is like this:

1. Ajax 26 64 pts *
2. PSV 26 53 pts **
3. Feyenoord 26 49 pts
4. AZ 26 48 pts
5. Heerenveen 26 45 pts

* Ajax almost champions, direct CL place
** 2nd place gives the right for qualifying to the CL

Ghaly played a really good match. It seems that Ghaly really made his statement by playing good matches, and showing everyone he is a man to build Feyenoord's future on. We hope that Ghaly will play the next match too, looking at this match it seems to be certain he will play, but you never know because the coach is the one that decides.

On-form Ghaly: too fast for the cameras!

EP will bring you a preview and of course details of Ghaly/Feyenoord's next match on Sunday the 28th, against Roda JC.