Zoetebier shuts out Kärnten

An outstanding display by goalkeeper Edwin Zoetebier ensured former UEFA Cup winners Feyenoord took their place in the second round with a 1-0 second-leg victory against FC Kärnten.

Dogged resistance
Thomas Buffel scored after 15 minutes to calm any early nerves the Dutch side were suffering as they looked to protect their 2-1 first-leg lead - but the Austrian side dominated large sections of the match and created plenty of chances to pierce Feyenoord's dogged resistance.

Buffel strike
The first scoring opportunity of an entertaining encounter fell to Kärnten forward Robert Schellender, but his third-minute shot whistled half a metre wide of the target. Team-mate Thomas Ambrosius went even closer with a header five minutes later - but soon Buffel found the net at the other end. Feyenoord broke down the left and Alfred Schreuder cut inside, laying the ball off for the Belgian striker, who gave goalkeeper Roland Goriupp no chance from eleven metres out.

Goalline clearance
As the visitors dug their heels in looking to protect their two-goal aggregate lead, Kärnten surged forward. Stanko Bubalo thought he had levelled the scores on the night when he clipped a 35th-minute header past Zoetebier - but Feyenoord's Jorge Acuna was on hand to clear the ball off the line. At the other end, Buffel beat two defenders with the half-time interval looming but missed a great chance to double his tally and put the result beyond doubt.

Zoetebier inspired
Zoetebier came to the fore in the second half, pulling off three wonderful saves to deny the Austrian side. Schellander was twice denied, first watching the keeper stop a fierce effort from distance, then seeing Zoetebier head a thunderbolt free-kick to safety on the hour after the ball zipped through the defensive wall and caught him off-guard. Six minutes later Almedin Hota beat the Feyenoord offside trap but again found Zoetebier in inspired form.

Late chance
Kärnten's hopes began to fade and visiting substitute Anthony Lurling missed a fine chance to wrap up the victory by blasting wide from eight metres and although his side progressed, Feyenoord coach Bert van Marwijk was unimpressed. "I'm disappointed with the second-half display," he said. "We played too deep - but thankfully Zoetebier was the man of the match."