Almelo, Netherlands (SportsNetwork.com) - Feyenoord suffered a second successive defeat away from home on Saturday as goals from Brian Linssen and Thomas Bruns handed the club a 2-0 defeat at Heracles.
Linssen made the most of a rare chance in first-half stoppage time when Feyenoord's Terence Kongolo scuffed a clearance that allowed Linssen to drive a volley past Feyenoord goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer.
The visitors were largely frustrated in the offensive third of the field, but Lex Immers failed to take advantage of his team's best chance with 15 minutes to play when he saw his header come back off the post.
Linssen played provider on the insurance tally six minutes from time as he curled a cross into the area from the wing that allowed Bruns to redirect a header past Vermeer to make it 2-0.
Heracles tried to add to the advantage in the closing minutes as well with Mark-Jan Fledderus going close with a shot from the top of the box before substitute Jaroslav Navratil hit the post.
The disappointing result leaves Feyenoord in third place, five points back of second-place Ajax, which can extend that advantage with a win on Sunday against Twente.
Vitesse handled Willem II, 2-0, behind first-half goals from Zakaria Labyad and Bertrand Traore, Excelsior and Groningen played to a 1-1 draw as the teams traded goals in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, while Den Haag scored three times in the second half, including two goals from Michiel Kramer, in a 3-2 victory over NAC.
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