Feyenoord boss Robin van Persie kept captain Sem Steijn on the bench for the second time in three league games. Canadian Cyle Larin started in his place, therefore keeping his starting spot from last Thursday's 2-0 Europa League loss away at Stuttgart.
Meanwhile, Go Ahead Eagles, who lost 2-0 to Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League, fielded an unchanged side from their European loss.
Vice captain Anis Hadj Moussa was hit with some misfortune in the fourth minute already, when the Algerian star hit the crossbar following a strong reflex from Jari De Busser.
The Rotterdam side's misfortune continued a few minutes later when Slovakian wonderkid Leo Sauer pulled down Go Ahead Eagles captain Mats Deijl in Feyenoord's box. The captain himself stepped up and delivered the first strike of the game, putting his team up one after 13 minutes.
Feyenoord, whose top scorer Ayase Ueda played a quiet game in Deventer, created very few chances in the first half following Hadj Moussa's effort. Only Larin came close once more, but saw his header sail over the bar.
Following the break, Ueda got close in the 60th minute, but saw his effort get stopped in a disappointing outing for the Japanese hitman.
Indonesian international Dean James doubled the Eagles' lead late in the game, shaking Hadj Moussa off with a chop and firing the ball in the roof of Timon Wellenreuther's goal for the nail in Feyenoord's coffin.
Feyenoord took just three minutes to reply and score their first goal of the evening via Tsuyoshi Watanabe, who added late excitement to a game in which Go Ahead Eagles played the best football.
A late offensive saw Feyenoord pump the ball into the Eagles' box, but to no avail as the league leaders suffered a second league loss, costing them the top spot as PSV take over following their 5-1 win over AZ.
Check out all the match and player statistics from Feyenoord-Go Ahead Eagles on Flashscore
