Fortuna suffers an unnecessary defeat against Twente
Fortuna Sittard lost the home match against FC Twente 1-2. Kristoffer Peterson evened the score with a penalty kick.
The guests took the initiative in the match, had a lot of ball possession, but played at too low a pace to really make Fortuna's well-organised playing difficult. Both goalkeepers did not have to take action for a long time. From the first really successful attack, Twente took the lead ten minutes before half-time. With a subtle pass, Michel Vlap served the passing Sem Steijn from the left, who remained free for goalkeeper Mattijs Branderhorst: 0-1. A setback for Fortuna, which did not really make an attacking impact in the first half.
Head coach Danny Buijs made offensive changes, Makan Aïko strengthened Fortuna's vanguard at the start of the second half, and midfielder Loreintz Rosier remained in the dressing room. Fortuna became more threatening, after an hour of play a long kick from Mattijs Branderhorst led to the equalizer. After a corner kick from Twente, the goalkeeper plucked the ball out of the air and sent a long kick towards Aïko. The striker seemed to be fighting a losing battle, but he managed to get the ball ahead of the doubting Lars Unnerstall. The Frenchman tapped the ball past the goalkeeper and was knocked to the ground by defender Bart de Rooij. The rightly awarded penalty was shot in control by Peterson: 1-1.
The Fortuna supporters got even more behind their team, more seemed possible for the home club. However, Twente quickly responded to the equalizer and took the lead again four minutes later. After losing the ball in midfield at Fortuna, Steijn served teammate Ricky van Wolfswinkel, with a careful ball in the far corner he gave the guests the lead again: 1-2. Fortuna refused to accept defeat and at times, especially during free kicks and corner kicks, forced the guests back into their own penalty area with eleven men. With Alessio da Cruz and Umaro Embaló as attacking substitutes, the team looked for the equalizer. This did not lead to any really great opportunities, but in injury time Ezequiel Bullaude was still dangerous with a shot.
On Saturday, Fortuna will play the away match against Feyenoord in the Rotterdam Kuip at 8 p.m.
Fortuna Sittard: Branderhorst, Pinto (’80 Mitrovic), Guth, Adewoye, Dijks, Bastien (’80 Van Ottele), Rosier (46’ Aïko), Fosso, Halilovic (’65 Da Cruz), Bullaude, Peterson (80’ Embalo)