Fortuna takes a point from Almelo
For the second time in eight days, Fortuna Sittard ended an away match with a draw, and on Saturday another point was achieved against Heracles with a 2-2 score on foreign soil.
Fortuna missed several players due to injuries. Captain Ivo Pinto had to miss the match and was replaced by Josip Mitrovic. Shawn Adewoye, who scored accurately against Feyenoord last week, was also not included in the selection. Syb van Ottele took his place in the defense. Ryan Fosso and Makan Aïko were also missing from the scoresheet.
Alen Halilovic was close to the opening goal in the early stages of the match. After a cross from Mitrovic, Alessio da Cruz kept an overview in the penalty area and delivered the ball to the Croatian midfielder. From the edge of the penalty area, Halilovic produced a careful effort, the ball came back into the field via the fingertips of Heracles goalkeeper Fabian de Keijzer and the post. The first really good attack from the home club immediately resulted in a goal after fifteen minutes of play. After a cross from Stefan Engels, Luka Kulenovic headed in hard: 1-0.
Fortuna recovered from this setback and thanks to Halilovic, who played matchlessly at times, the guests took the lead fifteen minutes later. The equalizer was especially enjoyable. Halilovic claimed the ball and saw Da Cruz run away from the back of the Heracles defense. The perfect ball from Fortuna's playmaker was pushed into the goal by Fortuna's striker with the outside of his foot: 1-1. A hit worth framing. Barely five minutes later, Fortuna took the lead, Halilovic was again in the starting line-up. He served Kristoffer Peterson with a diagonal ball from the right side. The winger got rid of his direct opponent with a short cutting movement and shot into the far corner: 1-2. At that moment a deserved lead for Fortuna.
After the break, Heracles was the dominant party. Mattijs Branderhorst showed his class twice, in one-on-one situations, the goalkeeper skilfully saved from shots from Jizz Hornkamp and Engels. After exactly an hour of play, the equalizer became a fact, after a hesitant performance in the Fortuna defense, Hornkamp found teammate Ruben Roosken. He now left Branderhorst without a chance: 2-2. After the home team's fierce opening phase, both teams were evenly matched again. Branderhorst had to act one more time, in the final phase he prevented a goal from Hornkamp with his chest. Fortuna was no longer able to become dangerous.
Next Saturday, Fortuna will play at home against RKC Waalwijk at 8 p.m.
Fortuna Sittard: Branderhorst, Mitrovic, Guth, Van Ottele, Dijks (88’ Dahlhaus), Rosier, Bastien, Bullaude, Halilovic (88’ Michut), Peterson, Da Cruz (81’ Erceg)