ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (Reuters) -Feyenoord beat visitors Lazio 3-1 on Wednesday thanks to a double from Mexico’s Santiago Gimenez and a strike from Ramiz Zerrouki to move provisionally top of Champions League Group E.
The Dutch champions could have taken the lead in the 25th minute when Gimenez’s effort was disallowed after a VAR review, but he had another shot five minutes later from Mats Wieffer’s pass which flew into the top corner of Ivan Provedel’s net.
“Santi (Gimenez) scored a really good goal. It’s really nice (to provide an assist) like that. He’s already scored a lot of goals for us this season, with another two this evening as well. It’s great to have him back,” said Wieffer.
Gimenez, suspended for the first two group games, scored on his debut in Europe’s top club competition to become the second Mexican player to do so after Edson Alvarez for Ajax against Lille in 2019. He is Feyenoord’s top scorer this season with 15 goals.
Feyenoord, European champions in 1970, doubled their lead before halftime when midfielder Calvin Stengs cut inside and set up Algeria international Zerrouki to shoot home.
Maurizio Sarri’s side tried to fight back with shots from Mattia Zaccagni and Manuel Lazzari, but goalkeeper Justin Bijlow saved them.
“In the first half, we were too worried, and intimidated by their aggressiveness and pressing. Their first goal was inevitable, but we shouldn’t have conceded the second one,” Sarri said.
“Now we have two home matches, and we need to make the most of them, then we’ll see how the standings look. In a six-match group, losing one is problematic,” he added.
Gimenez grabbed his second from a rebound from Quinten Timber’s shot in the 74th minute but Lazio claimed a consolation when Marcos Lopez fouled Valentin Castellanos and Pedro Rodriguez converted the penalty seven minutes from time.
Feyenoord moved top of Group E with six points ahead of Atletico Madrid’s game against Celtic. They visit Lazio on Nov. 7.
(Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico City, editing by Ed Osmond)
