Europa Conference League: Dessers’ first leg performance sends Feyenoord to first European final in 20 years

The Super Eagles star was caged in the second leg, but his brilliance at De Kuip was enough to see his side through

Feyenoord went away to secure a 0-0 draw at Marseille. Still, Dessers’ first leg brace was enough to send the former Dutch champions to the finals of the maiden edition of the Europa Conference League as they qualified 3-2 on aggregate.

Feyenoord already did half of the job when they beat Marseille 3-1 at De Kuip last week, thanks to a Dessers brace. However, they traveled to Marseille to lock horns with the French giants on a ground that had witnessed many a European night.

The first half was a drab affair, with both sides failing to create clear-cut chances. In fact, the man in the middle, Sandro Scharer, got most of the action, as there were 19 fouls in the first half.

Feyenoord had a left off when Marseille star man Dmitri Payet suffered an injury and had to be substituted. The absence of the former West Ham man probably made the load easier for Feyenoord.

However, the game opened up in the second period, with chances falling to both sides, but they failed to bury the ball in the net.

Dessers came close to scoring, but Steve Mandanda was on hand to stop the Nigerian forward.

The former Dutch champions ensured a stealthy backline, and that paid off as they ran out with a goalless draw.

The result was enough for Feyenoord, as Dessers’ brace from the first leg gave them a spot in Tirana with a 3-2 aggregate triumph. The win ends Feyenoord’s 20-year hiatus in the semifinals of a European competition.