Raheem Sterling Gets First Feyenoord Assist In Win, Eases Robin van Persie Pressure
Raheem Sterling provided his first assist for Feyenoord as the club came from behind to beat Excelsior 2-1 at De Kuip, a contribution that helped ease pressure on manager Robin van Persie and prompted a more positive reaction from local media and supporters.
Raheem Sterling’s decisive pass and the match turnaround
Feyenoord trailed after Arthur Zagre opened the scoring for 15th-placed Excelsior in the first half, but the hosts struck twice in quick succession to complete the comeback. Sterling delivered the assist for Ayase Ueda’s second goal, receiving the ball on the turn in his own half and playing a defence-splitting through ball that left Ueda one-on-one to finish calmly.
The assist was Sterling’s first for his new club and arrived in his fourth appearance for Feyenoord. He had made his debut on Feb. 22 and this outing marked his first competitive action since May 2025. The 2-1 victory kept Feyenoord in second place in the Eredivisie and extended the wait for runaway leaders PSV Eindhoven to secure the title.
Dutch media and fan reaction shift after Sterling’s performance
Early criticism of Sterling’s initial displays gave way to praise following his lively contribution at De Kuip. Several Dutch outlets highlighted his positive influence in the opening periods, noting his attempts on goal, energising presence and the assist that set up Ueda’s winner. Not all commentary was uniformly glowing—some coverage described the overall display as mixed—but many reports and the home crowd showed encouragement after the decisive moment.
A clip of Sterling’s through ball and the finish quickly gained attention online, amassing significant views and prompting fan reaction that celebrated the quality of the pass and hoped it would restore confidence in the former England international.
Implications for Robin van Persie and the run-in
The win provided a timely boost for manager Robin van Persie, who has faced pressure given Feyenoord’s precarious position regarding automatic Champions League qualification. Maintaining second place remains crucial, and this result prevented PSV from being crowned champions immediately after their own unexpected league loss.
Van Persie defended Sterling’s early days with the club, highlighting context around the player’s recent lack of team training and suggesting criticism had been premature. He urged a measured view of expectations, noting Sterling’s achievements and the circumstances that followed his move.
Feyenoord now face a key fixture against Ajax on March 22, an encounter that will carry weight for the club’s ambitions and offer a further opportunity for Sterling to build on his first home start and growing contribution.
