Feyenoord vs Roma lived up to its billing as a hard-fought encounter in the UEFA Europa League's knockout round play-off. The Rotterdam crowd at De Kuip created a fervent atmosphere, pushing their Feyenoord side forward in a breathless first half.

Feyenoord vs Roma Highlights

Feyenoord deservedly took the lead just before the break. A pinpoint cross found Igor Paixao, who rose majestically to head home, sending the De Kuip into raptures. However, Roma weren't about to go down without a fight. They tightened up their defense after the break and found their equalizer through the ever-reliable Romelu Lukaku.

Despite a late surge from Feyenoord – which saw them hit the post – the game ended in a 1-1 draw. This leaves the tie finely balanced heading into the Feyenoord vs Roma rematch in Rome next week.

Feyenoord will be disappointed not to have secured the home advantage after their dominant first-half display. However, they showed they are a force to be reckoned with, even against a team of Roma's caliber. De Kuip proved to be a challenging away fixture, and Feyenoord threatened to blow Roma away at times.

All Set For The Next Match

For Roma, the task was simply to avoid defeat and keep the tie alive. Lukaku's crucial goal achieved that, and they now head back to Italy as slight favorites. However, they cannot underestimate the threat posed by a determined Feyenoord seeking a famous away victory to progress to the next round.

Both Feyenoord and Roma displayed impressive qualities in this first leg, showcasing themselves as handy sides with genuine Europa League aspirations. The stage is set for a thrilling rematch in Rome next week, where one of these two teams will take a crucial step towards their European dream.

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Image credit of REUTERS