Raheem Sterling registered his first assist for Feyenoord as the Rotterdam side came from behind to defeat Excelsior in Eredivisie action, a result that also helps ease some of the early pressure around head coach Robin van Persie.
The England international, who joined Feyenoord ahead of this campaign, played a key role in the turnaround after Excelsior had taken an initial lead. Sterling’s contribution in the final third helped shift the momentum in Feyenoord’s favor, as the hosts responded with renewed attacking intent and eventually overturned the deficit.
Sterling operated from wide areas, looking to stretch the Excelsior defense and create space for Feyenoord’s forwards. His assist came from one of several driving runs and combinations in the attacking half, culminating in a well-timed pass that set up a Feyenoord teammate to score. The goal marked an important milestone in Sterling’s early spell at the club, offering a tangible return on his growing influence in the side.
For Van Persie, still in the early stages of his tenure at De Kuip, the victory provides a measure of relief. Feyenoord’s performance, particularly after falling behind, will be viewed as a positive response under a coach who remains closely scrutinized due to the club’s ambitions and his own high profile as a former star forward. The team showed resilience, greater control in midfield as the match progressed, and improved decision-making in the attacking third.
The win over Excelsior also has implications near the top of the Eredivisie table, as it delays any potential title celebrations for leaders PSV. By taking all three points, Feyenoord ensured that PSV must wait longer before they can mathematically secure the championship. While PSV remain in a strong position, Feyenoord’s result underscores that the chasing pack is still intent on influencing the title race for as long as possible.
Sterling’s first assist for the club may also prove important beyond this single match. His ability to create chances adds another dimension to Feyenoord’s attack and could become increasingly significant as the season enters its decisive stretch. For Van Persie and his squad, combining Sterling’s experience with the energy of the existing group will be central to maintaining pressure at the top end of the league and finishing the campaign strongly.
As Feyenoord look ahead to their remaining fixtures, this comeback victory and Sterling’s breakthrough contribution provide a timely boost in confidence. The connection between the new signing and his teammates appears to be developing, and the club will hope that this performance marks the start of a consistent run of form in both results and attacking output.
