Kalou keeps Feyenoord afloat

Feyenoord retained the lead in UEFA Cup Group A as they came from behind to draw with Ferencvárosi TC in Budapest.

Tözsér bullet
Ferencváros, opening their group campaign, had been given a stunning lead by a bullet free-kick from Dániel Tözsér but Feyenoord responded well in the second half to earn a point through a Salomon Kalou goal just after the hour mark.

Edgy start
After an edgy start from both sides the first attempt on goal arrived in the 14th minute - a shot deflected behind from a tight angle from Feyenoord's Japanese international Shinji Ono. But Ferencváros soon began to dominate proceedings and the first warning sign for Feyenoord came in the 21st minute.

Bajevski header
Great work from Szabolcs Huszti near the right corner flag proceeded the delivery of a wicked cross which Thomas Sowunmi flicked into the path of Aleksandar Bajevski, but the striker headed just over from five metres.

Ferencváros joy
Just five minutes later the breakthrough did arrive and it was from a situation which was all Feyenoord's own making. Patrick Paauwe needlessly brought down Bajevski and after going into the referee's notebook could only watch as Tözsér sent the resulting free-kick swerving through the wall and past the unsighted Gábor Babos from fully 30 metres.

Home pressure
If it was thought the goal would serve as a wake-up call for Feyenoord then the opposite was what actually happened. It was Ferencváros who continued to press but could not create any clear-cut openings.

Early chances
Feyenoord, clearly stirred by the words of coach Ruud Gullit during the interval, came out for the second half with much more purpose. However, despite getting the share of possession the early chances all went to Ferencváros. First, on 49 minutes, Péter Lipcsei fired just wide after a long throw and three minutes later Sowunmi failed to control when clean through.

Clinical Kalou
The visitors' standards were much improved however, as the two-time UEFA Cup winners pressed for the goal which their increased verve and vigour deserved. On 55 minutes the industrious Ono sent a shot just wide and just after the hour Kalou went one better. Dirk Kuijt stabbed a cute pass into the path of the Ivorian international and his finish was clinical, beating Lajos Szücs at his near post.

Tense finish
With 15 minutes remaining Bart Goor saw a floated free-kick spectacularly saved by the home side's goalkeeper as Feyenoord threatened a winner, before the Hungarian champions became revitalised with a spell which saw Huszti and Lipcsei both going close before the final whistle.

Next fixtures
Feyenoord, ahead of FC Schalke 04 on goal difference after the German side's win over Heart of Midlothian FC in the group's other match - the Dutch side's victims on Matchday 1 - but sit out the next fixtures on 25 November, when Ferencváros go to Gelsenkirchen. Schalke visit Rotterdam the following week.