Own goal helps Fortuna get a three-pointer
Fortuna Sittard won 1-0 against FC Groningen on Saturday evening. The match was decided just before the end by an own goal by Leandro Bacuna.
Danny Buijs had to make do without the injured Alen Halilovic and Samuel Bastien. The head coach had access to Mitchell Dijks again. The back returned to the starting line-up, striker Ante Erceg also appeared at the kick-off. Not much happened for either goal in the first half. Groningen, which already traveled to Limburg on Friday, did not want to take too much risk. Fortuna also waited for the moments that come in every match.
Dahlhaus tested the qualities of Groningen goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen, but he was not surprised in the short corner. A shot by Loreintz Rosier disappeared just wide of the post. Groningen made one attack in attack, a shot by midfielder Johan Hove was lightly touched by Rodrigo Guth. Goalkeeper Mattijs Branderhorst made a competent save.
After the break the game was the same, Groningen appeared threatening in Fortuna's penalty area a number of times. However, Branderhorst did not really have to take action. The last part of the match belonged to Fortuna. Ivo Pinto, who played his hundredth official match for Fortuna, gave a beautiful ball to substitute Alessio da Cruz. Once again Vaessen made the save, and the assistant had flagged it for offside. Barely a minute later, Fortuna was dangerous again, a cross from Jasper Dahlhaus ended up with Ezequiel Bullaude. His bicycle kick ended up on the head of another substitute on Fortuna's side, Josip Mitrovic. His header went just wide.
Four minutes before official playing time expired, Fortuna still took the lead, in a rather unusual way. After a corner kick from Dahlahus, Guth shot in, Vaessen let the ball pass under him, but Wouter Prins made a save on the goal line. The ball fell at the feet of captain Bacuna, who was able to clear the ball. To the surprise of everyone, however, the defender shot the ball hard into his own goal: 1-0. The stadium, packed with more than 11,000 spectators, exploded with joy after this moment.
Groningen tried in the remaining minutes to force a draw, goalkeeper Vaessen even appeared in the forward line twice in an attempt to save a point from the visit to Sittard. This did not lead to really exciting moments in front of Fortuna's goal, so the three points remained in Sittard again. Already for the fourth time in five games. Another clean sheet could also be recorded, number five of the season.
The away match in the cup against the Treffers is scheduled for Tuesday, and Fortuna will play at home again next Saturday. Heerenveen will be the opponent at 9 p.m.
Fortuna Sittard: Branderhorst, Pinto, Guth, Adewoye, Dijks (68’ Da Cruz), Rosier, Fosso (81’ Van Ottele), Dahlhaus, Bullaude (90' Embalo), Aïko (46’ Peterson), Erceq (68’ Mitrovic).