The Hague, May 12 (IANS) Vitesse defeated Feyenoord 4-1 in Rotterdam to prevent the home-team from securing the third place in the Dutch Eredivisie.
Vitesse dominated Feyenoord in stadium De Kuip, on Monday night, and took a deserved lead. After a through ball by Davy Propper, Valeri Qazaishvili scored with a long-distance shot, Xinhua reported.
Jan-Arie van der Heijden doubled the score in the 31st minute, but Jens Toornstra managed to do something back on behalf of Feyenoord.
Toornstra controlled a cross by Rick Karsdorp from the right and found the net.
Two minutes from half-time, Vitesse scored again when Feyenoord goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer punched the ball to Vitesse defender Rochdi Achenteh, who smashed home.
In the second half, Feyenoord pushed forward, but only in the final phase did the home-team create some chances.
A header by Colin Kazim-Richards was disallowed for pushing Vitesse defender Van der Heijden and Toornstra hit the post.
Zakaria Labyad secured Vitesse’s victory with a goal in injury-time.
After only two points from the last four matches, Feyenoord are still on the third place with 59 points. AZ, who defeated NAC Breda 3-2 on Sunday, also have as many.
However, Feyenoord have a far better goal difference than AZ.
With 57 points Vitesse also remain in contention for the third position.
In the final match round next Sunday, Feyenoord will go to PEC Zwolle, AZ play at Excelsior and Vitesse host FC Utrecht.
The third-placed team on the final ranking after 34 match rounds will qualify for the Europa League, while the other two teams will continue in the play-offs for a place in the Europa League with PEC Zwolle and SC Heerenveen.
Dutch Cup winners FC Groningen, currently ranked on the 8th position, are already certain of a Europa League berth.