Feyenoord eased the pressure on manager Robin van Persie after ending a seven-game winless run with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Austrian champions Sturm Graz in Rotterdam.
The former Arsenal and Manchester United forward had come under growing scrutiny following a miserable stretch that produced just two wins in 12 matches across all competitions.
However, his side delivered a timely response in their penultimate UEFA Europa League League Phase fixture, boosted by the return of leading scorer Ayase Ueda to the starting lineup.
The encounter was crucial for Feyenoord, who trailed Sturm Graz by a point heading into the match and needed maximum points from their final two games to keep their hopes of a top-24 finish alive.
Van Persie got the fast start he craved when Japanese defender Tsuyoshi Watanabe opened the scoring early on, rising highest to nod home Sem Steijn’s corner.
That goal proved to be the lone highlight of a largely uneventful first half, with both teams struggling to create clear openings. Ueda came closest to doubling the lead before the break but failed to direct his late header on target.
Feyenoord showed greater urgency after the restart and were rewarded with a second goal when Anis Hadj Moussa latched onto a long pass from goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther and powered a finish past Daniil Khudyakov at the near post.
Sturm Graz offered little resistance thereafter, and substitute Leo Sauer nearly added a touch of brilliance with a cheeky backheel effort that lacked the power to trouble the goalkeeper.
The hosts sealed the win in style as former Porto winger Gonçalo Borges fired home after a clever backheel assist from Shaqueel van Persie, the manager’s son, following a driving run by Cyle Larin.
The result marked Feyenoord’s first victory since December 6 and kept their Europa League campaign alive, moving them to within two points of the top-24 places ahead of a final away fixture against Real Betis.
For Sturm Graz, the defeat extended a worrying slump, with six losses in their last eight matches all but ending their European hopes.
They are set to host SK Brann in what is expected to be their final continental outing of the season.
