Feyenoord's demise: 0-10 trashing against PSV

I normally don't follow Dutch club football a lot, except their clubs taking part in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League, but this news came as a shocker. Feyenoord Rotterdam are one of the three Dutch football giants besides Ajax Amsterdam and PSV Eindhoven. But earlier today they suffered their worst ever defeat at the hands of one of their rivals PSV Eindhoven. The league leaders PSV trashed their traditional rivals 10-0 at home at the Philips Arena in Eindhoven to stay top of the league.

It is a new low for Feyenoord, who have been struggling financially over the last few years, as they are now fourth from bottom. The club from the port city of Rotterdam have not been able to challenge their traditional rivals in the Dutch Eredivisie over the last few years, while smaller sides like AZ Alkmaar and Twente Enschede have also moved past them in the pecking order. And now this new low, a tragedy for their proud fans.

Feyenoord's previous heaviest defeat was a 8-2 loss at the hands of their other rivals Ajax Amsterdam way back in September 1983. For PSV the 10-0 win wasn't a first. It was their third such 10-0 win, the first came in 1973 against Go Ahead Eagles and the second in 1998 against Volendam.

The goals for PSV were scored by six different players. Brazilian Jonathan Reis scored three of those goals with Jeremain Lens and Balazs Dzsudzsak scoring two goals each. The other goals came from captain Ibrahim Afellay, striker Ola Toivonen and midfielder Orlando Engelaar. The task was made easier for PSV due to a double yellow card booking for Kelvin Leerdam just after 34 minutes.

The 1908 founded club have a rich history. Feyenoord has won 14 Dutch Championships, 11 Dutch Cups and two Dutch Super Cup's. The club has also had continental success as winners of 1970 European Cup Winners' Cup besides two UEFA Cup titles in 1974 and 2002.

Feyenoord coach Mario Been told the official Feyenoord website that it was a "dark day in the club's history." And it is now about a fight for survival in the Eredivisie as anything else seems unrealistic at the moment. From now on I will surely follow the Eredivisie table a little closer to see what Feyenoord are doing.