Elvis Manu’s fine form in the Eredivisie came to an end this weekend as Feyenoord lost 1-0 to Go Ahead Eagles.
Fred Rutten’s side headed into this match on a six-game unbeaten run, having won four of their last five matches.
Little could the 47,000 packed into De Kuip have expected that Feyenoord would come unstuck against Go Ahead Eagles, who are themselves labouring second from bottom in the Dutch top flight.
However, the cohesion that has underpinned the domestic giants’ good form evaporated on Sunday as the home side lacked energy and dynamism.
Jordy Clasie and Karim El Ahmadi may have impressed—with the latter hitting the woodwork—but the likes of Manu and Colin Kazim-Richards—key performers in recent weeks—delivered a thoroughly disappointing showing.
Strugglers Go Ahead took the lead with less than 20 minutes remaining when substitute Jules Reimerink finished off an excellent move with a delightful finish.
Feyenoord sought an equaliser frantically as the game wore on, but were unable to find the net.
Manu has been in decent form in recent weeks, scoring four goals in his last four matches before this one.
He scored as Feyenoord beat FC Dordrecht away, before bagging a brace and contributing an assist in the 4-1 away rout of AZ Alkmaar.
Last weekend he was again on target as the Rotterdam-based club drew 2-2 away at Willem II.
Against the Eagles, however, playing on the right side in Rutten’s 4-3-3 formation, he failed to ignight and delivered one of his worst performances of 2015.
The forward contributed five key passes, but failed to hit a single shot on target, didn’t complete a single dribble and was guilty of a number of poor touches, according to WhoScored.
