Fresh off the back of their first win of 2026 - a 3-0 UEFA Europa League victory over Austrian champions Sturm Graz - Feyenoord knew only a win would see them retain their second place in the Eredivisie after Ajax's 2-0 win over FC Volendam on Saturday.
With top scorer Ayase Ueda back from injury and right-back Mats Deijl making his debut after completing his transfer from Go Ahead Eagles on Saturday, manager Robin van Persie was set to face a Heracles side that had lost five of their previous six games, with only the KNVB Beker game against amateurs Hoogeveen resulting in a win.
A slow start saw Feyenoord create just one decent chance in the opening 20 minutes, with Deijl failing to beat Fabian de Keijzer with his header.
After Ueda thought he'd put the hosts up one, VAR ruled the Japanese striker's goal out after a handball infringement. Slovakian talent Leo Sauer wouldn't be stopped in the 23rd minute, heading Feyenoord in front.
The lead was short-lived after Australian full-back Jordan Bos fouled Lequincio Zeefuik and handed Heracles a penalty just five minutes after Sauer's opener. Luka Kulenovic stepped up and converted, putting Heracles back alongside Feyenoord.
Bos redeemed himself perfectly another couple of minutes later, powerfully shooting the ball between De Keijzer's legs to restore Feyenoord's lead roughly ten minutes before half-time.
A lot of minor chances followed until Kulenovic had his second goal of the afternoon on his boot. The Serbian striker couldn't finish the one-on-one with Timon Wellenreuther, lobbing the ball wide of the post to keep Feyenoord's lead alive.
After a long, quiet phase, Feyenoord looked to have locked the win up via Anis Hadj Moussa, who beautifully curled the ball in the top left corner to make it 3-1 to Feyenoord in the 85th minute.
Danish striker Casper Tengstedt put the game beyond any doubt a minute later, calmly finishing his first chance of the evening by chipping De Keijzer.
Heracles wouldn't go down without a fight and had one more goal to show for their efforts after Tristan van Gilst slid in a cross from Djevencio van der Kust in the fourth minute of added time.
For the first time in 2026, Feyenoord won an Eredivisie game, ending a winless streak of four games and reclaiming the second spot ahead of their final League Phase game in the UEFA Europa League, away at Real Betis.
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