Fortuna again to a draw in De Kuip
Fortuna took a point from the away match against Feyenoord on Saturday evening. The visit to Rotterdam ended in a draw for the third year in a row.
Fortuna could not count on captain Ivo Pinto, his place in the starting line-up was taken by Josip Mitrovic. Jasper Dahlhaus started the match in midfield, replacing Kristoffer Peterson who was not fully fit. Makan Aïko made his appearance in the front line, he was given a starting place after his strong substitution against FC Twente.
Feyenoord started the match with great conviction. The team had caused a stir in Europe this week, by making up a 3-0 deficit in the final phase of the match against Manchester City. The home team started the match convincingly and bombarded the Fortuna goal. Quinten Timber hit hard in the opening phase, Branderhorst tapped the ball from under the crossbar. A little later, the midfielder served David Hancko, his header from close range was again prey for the Fortuna goalkeeper.
The most striking man on the side of the home team was right winger Anis Hadj Mousa. The Fortuna defense had a lot of trouble with the fast and technically gifted winger. After 25 minutes Hadj Mousa was free in front of Branderhorst, but his shot went wide. A few minutes later the Sittard goalie had to take action again, via his hand a shot from Hadj Mousa disappeared via the underside of the crossbar back into the field. Fortuna had trouble getting near the penalty area of Feyenoord.
From one of the few moments that this did work, the 0-1 immediately appeared on the scoreboard. After a low corner kick by Samuel Bastien, Feyenoord attacker Igor Paixao mowed over the ball at the first post. Suddenly the ball was at the feet of Adewoye who remained cool from close range: 0-1. Soon after, the home team seemed to equalize, after a cross from Paixao, Hadj Mousa produced a well-considered shot. Fortuna was lucky again, the ball hit the post.
In the second half, Loreintz Rosier came on the field to disrupt the Rotterdam attacking drive. The home team became less threatening and when there was any danger, Branderhorst was always the rock in the surf. After more than an hour of play, Fortuna was saved again by the post, this time it was Gernot Trauner who saw his effort stopped by the woodwork. Ten minutes before the end of the official playing time, Feyenoord finally equalized, via a bicycle kick by substitute Santiago Gimenez: 1-1. The home team wanted more and tried with all their might to force the winning goal. Feyenoord got one more big chance, the also substituted Chris-Kevin Nadje was free in front of Branderhorst. Once again, the Fortuna goalkeeper showed his class and saved his team from conceding a second goal. With no less than ten saves, the goalie became the undisputed ‘Man of the Match’.
Fortuna Sittard: Branderhorst, Mitrovic (51’ Van Ottele), Guth, Adewoye, Dijks, Fosso, Dahlhaus (46’ Rosier), Bastien, Halilovic (88’ Erceq), Bullaude (88’ Peterson), Aïko (72’ Da Cruz)