Eredivisie leaders, Feyenoord extended their flawless start to the season with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against sc Heerenveen in a match that saw both teams reduced to ten men.
Manager Robin van Persie, facing the club where he began his coaching career, handed right-back Givairo Read his second start of the campaign following a full recovery from injury.
Gijs Smal replaced Jordan Bos at left-back after Bos’s extensive travel between Australia and Rotterdam.
Feyenoord dominated early proceedings and appeared to take the lead within ten minutes, but Ayase Ueda’s effort was ruled offside.
Algerian star Anis Hadj Moussa tested Heerenveen goalkeeper Bernt Klaverboer soon after, but it wasn’t until the 42nd minute that the breakthrough came.
Read played a clever backheel to Hadj Moussa, who calmly slotted the ball into the corner to give the hosts the lead.
The Rotterdam crowd erupted again when Hadj Moussa dazzled with a slick run and delivered a precise cross for Leo Sauer, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside.
The second half started quietly, but chaos erupted after ten minutes when Hadj Moussa was sent off following a reckless challenge on Vasilios Zagaritis, confirmed after VAR intervention.
Heerenveen attempted to capitalize on the numerical advantage but were soon reduced to ten men themselves, as Hristiyan Petrov received a controversial second red card for an alleged foul on Ueda.
Heerenveen came closest to equalizing late in the game when Dylan Vente capitalized on a rare defensive lapse from Bart Nieuwkoop, but his shot went wide.
The match also featured an unusual interruption in the 78th minute when referee Robin Hensgens had to swap shorts after a wardrobe malfunction.
Feyenoord’s goalkeeper situation remained tense after a collision between Timon Wellenreuther and Anel Ahmedhodzic, though Wellenreuther managed to continue despite a sore torso.
Despite 14 minutes of added time, Heerenveen could not find a way through, suffering their third defeat of the season. Feyenoord, meanwhile, extended their unbeaten start with four consecutive victories in the Eredivisie.
