Sensational Connolly returns in style - December 14, 2000
David Connolly's years of banishment from Feyenoord were erased from his head last night as he helped his team to a 4-2 win against Fortuna Sittard to keep them on top of the Dutch table.
Connolly was recalled from feeder club Excelsior on Monday because of an injury crisis at Feyenoord and it did not take him long to make his mark. Fortuna took the lead in the seventh minute and it looked an uphill battle for the league leaders but on 14 minutes Connolly had Feyenoord level with a sweetly taken strike.
The club's fans have been raving about his performance. Feyenoord Online said: "Despite Gerritsen's goal in the seventh minute, Feyenoord played the best sixty minutes of the season so far. Connolly worked hard, directed the offensive play and scored the equaliser.
"Every pass was right and he gestured and talked like maybe only Cruyff dared to as a newcomer, although Cruyff was seventeen then. One smooth combination after the other rolled towards Ruud Hesp's goal and three minutes after Connolly's goal Patrick Paauwe sent the ball screaming into the net from twenty-five meters out.
"Fortuna weren't doing bad either. Any other team would have had a very tough night tonight against Fortuna, but Feyenoord were simply too strong. Kalou was unstoppable, Tomasson must have walked two marathons, Paauwe reigned in midfield and Connolly already seems a true reinforcement. He scored and directed."