Youth League, Inter lose 3 - 1 away to Feyenoord

Inter Primavera fall to defeat at the Sportcomplex Varkenoord in Rotterdam: the young Nerazzurri were defeated 3-1 on Youth League matchday four. Bigica's side went behind straight away following a Haps goal in the fourth minute, but got back into the game with a spirited first half performance. Inter equalised with some amazing play in the 20th minute, before conceding in the 32nd to El Harmouz. In the second half, the home side managed to control play and then sealed the win in the 85th minute with a penalty converted by Haps, securing his brace. Inter U20's remain on four points after four matches and will return to Youth League action against Stuttgart on Wednesday 25 November, on League Phase matchday five. A grey sky hung over Sportcomplex Varkenoord as Feyenoord-Inter kicked off in the early afternoon in Rotterdam. It took just four minutes to break the deadlock, with Haps racing towards the Nerazzurri penalty area and beating Farronato with a powerful left-footed strike under the crossbar. Caught cold, Inter tried to regroup, but struggled during the opening 15 minutes against the quality and physicality of the home side. Faik came close to doubling Feyenoord’s lead twice: first with a shot from outside the box that was too weak to trouble Farronato, then with a glancing header from a free kick in the final third, which prompted a superb save from the Nerazzurri goalkeeper as he turned the ball onto the post. As the minutes passed, however, Inter began to grow in confidence. They pushed their press higher in an attempt to win the ball back in the opposition half, while the quality of their passing and combinations improved. The momentum shifted, and in the 20th minute Vukaj produced a moment of genuine brilliance to level the score. Receiving the ball on the left, he embarked on a dribble, weaving past three opponents before curling a right-footed shot into the far corner. After the 1-1, the match opened up, with chances at both ends. In the 25th minute, Haps made a central run and got a shot away, while at the other end Lissi tried his luck with his right foot but was denied by de Mol. Three minutes later, Haps once again found Neijenhuis unmarked in the centre of the box, but his header went straight into Farronato’s arms. Inter then began to keep possession and take control of the game, but were hit again in the 32nd minute. Haps found Faik between the lines on the left, who laid the ball off for El Harmouz on the edge of the area. The Dutch number 5 turned and fired right-footed to put his team back in front.

The second half began with Feyenoord on the front foot once again. El Harmouz tried his luck with a left-footed half-volley from the edge of the box, which Farronato kept out. Inter threatened through attempts from Cerpelletti and D’Agostino, both blocked by Plantinga. Those would be the Nerazzurri’s only shots of the second half, alongside a long-range right-footed effort from La Rocca that de Mol dealt with comfortably. The home side controlled possession and dictated the pace and rhythm of the match, making the most of the quality of their attacking players. They created several promising situations, with attacking transitions ending in efforts that posed little danger, but maintained a constant presence in the Nerazzurri half. The match nevertheless remained finely balanced, with just one goal separating the teams. The decisive moment arrived in the 85th minute: following a corner routine, Hadidi took on Rocca and was brought down for a penalty. Haps converted it emphatically, bringing the match to a close.

FEYENOORD 3-1 INTER U20 | SCORESHEET

Goals: 4' and 86' Pen. Haps, 20' Vukaj, 32' El Harmouz

Feyenoord (4-3-3): 1 de Mol; 2 Mahamud, 3 Schens, 4 Plantinga, 5 Baks (22 Silva Dias 70'); 10 Grootfaam (19 El Boujjoufi 80'), 5 El Harmouz, 8 Faik; 7 Verdonk (17 Wilbrenninck-Van Cuilenborg 70'), 9 Neijenhuis (20 Hadidi 80'), 11 Haps Unused subs: 16 Van Bennekom, 14 Pieterse, 15 Roovers, 18 Akkermans, 21 Progetti Head Coach: Jimmy Lucassen

Inter (4-3-3): 1 Farronato; 2 Lissi (15 Moranduzzo 75'), 4 Breda, 6 Peletti, 3 Sorino (14 Rocca 67'); 8 D'Agostino (17 Putsen 67'), 5 La Torre (18 Moressa 75'), 7 Cerpelletti, 10 El Mahboubi, 9 Grisoni Fasana, 11 Vukaj (20 Kukulis 80') Unused subs: 12 Galliera, 13 Pavan, 16 Kartelo, 19 Franchi Head Coach: Emiliano Bigica

Booked: 9' Sorino (I), 11' Lissi (I), 46 Mahamud (F), 74' La Torre (I)

Stoppage time: 1', 3'

Referee: Menelaos Antoniou (CYP) Assistants: George Kontemeniotis (CYP) - Evagoras Evagorou (CYP) Fourth official: Erwin Blank (NED)