Eljero Elia netted a hat-trick as Feyenoord started their campaign with a 5-0 win over Groningen in the Euroborg.

elia fey gronGiovanni van Bronckhorst’s side failed to impress in last weeks Johan Cruijff Schaal defeat to PSV Eindhoven, but from the start the took control of the game against Groningen. Feyenoord threatened to open the scoring in the first three minutes but Hans Hateboer made a crucial interception to deny Elia a certain goal.

Eventually, on 19 minutes Feyenoord took the lead with Tonny Vilhena tapping in from close range after Sergio Padt had saved Elia’s effort. Ten minutes before the break it was 2-0 as Elia blasted Jens Toornstra’a cross past Padt and the winger then added a third with a lovely curling strike in first-half stoppage time.

Elia then completed his hat-trick ten minutes into the second half, blasting the ball into the roof of the net after Vilhena’s shot was parried by Padt. Nicolai Jorgensen completed the rout just before the end with a strike that took a deflection before reaching the net off the crossbar.

Feyenoord race to the top of the table on week one while new Groningen boss Ernest Faber has much to contemplate with his side torn apart.




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