Feyenoord Seal Late 2-1 Win at Fortuna Sittard to Close on Champions League Spot

Watanabe and Read strike late as Feyenoord come back to beat Fortuna

The win puts Feyenoord 5 points ahead of NEC and 6 ahead of Ajax with 2 games left. Robin van Persie’s side are set to secure a Champions League league phase spot.

Feyenoord all but clinch Champions League place after dramatic Sittard win...

Feyenoord are on the verge of securing a spot in next season’s Champions League Phase after a 2-1 comeback win over Fortuna Sittard on Sunday, scoring twice in the final five minutes.

With NEC and Ajax both dropping points on Saturday, a win would give Feyenoord a 5- and 6-point cushion for second with two games left. Robin van Persie kept the same lineup from the 3-1 victory over FC Groningen, starting Tobias van den Elshout on the left, Gernot Trauner in central defense, and Oussama Targhalline alongside Thijs Kraaijeveld in midfield.

Eredivisie leading scorer Ayase Ueda had the first shot of the game in the 12th minute but missed badly, firing well over Branderhorst’s goal.

Fortuna thought they had the opener in the 17th minute when Kaj Sierhuis and Lance Duijvestijn broke clear, but Duijvestijn’s effort came back off the post.

Feyenoord had the better of the first 25 minutes and came close twice more. Luciante Valente’s shot into an empty net was blocked, and Oussama Targhalline’s follow-up flew over, leaving Feyenoord without a goal despite a strong start.

Former Ajax forward Kaj Sierhuis scored against his old club in the 51st minute, rising above Trauner and Watanabe to head Fortuna in front.

Feyenoord looked out of ideas late on, and Ayase Ueda wasted another good chance with 15 minutes left, again blasting over Branderhorst’s bar.

Kaj Sierhuis zet Fortuna met een knappe kopbal op voorsprong! 👏#forfey pic.twitter.com/FQvLQ2WSyS

— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) May 3, 2026

Feyenoord got a lifeline with 10 minutes remaining when Fortuna substitute Paul Gladon was sent off for catching Matthijs Branderhorst with his studs, leaving the hosts down to 10 men.

It wasn’t Ayase Ueda who got on the scoresheet in the 84th minute. His header was saved by Branderhorst, but Tsuyoshi Watanabe reacted quickest to the rebound at the back post to level it and give Feyenoord extra time to push for a winner.

Whatever it takes.#forfey pic.twitter.com/I1ZvQffIwz

— Feyenoord Rotterdam (@Feyenoord) May 3, 2026

The turnaround was complete in the 90th minute when Givairo Read’s shot took a heavy deflection and looped over Branderhorst into the net.

Feyenoord’s late victory in Sittard has essentially secured Champions League qualification, leaving NEC and Ajax 5 and 6 points behind with two rounds to play.