Fortuna loses narrowly to Düsseldorf
Fortuna played a closed practice match against Fortuna Düsseldorf on Wednesday afternoon. The duel between the namesakes was decided in favor of the Germans.
Deroy Duarte, Nathan Markelo and Marko Lazetic were absent, the trio missing due to international obligations. In addition, head coach Danny Buijs was also unable to call on suspended Arianit Ferati. Dimitrios Siovas and Ivor Pandur were given extra rest.
Both teams started the match with a mixture. It made for a messy opening phase, in which both teams barely managed to create anything. After fifteen minutes, Fortuna Düsseldorf, the number four in the 2. Bundesliga, took the upper hand. Not much later this became visible on the scoreboard. Jona Niemiec was sent off after a good combination and remained cool: 0-1. After the drinking break, which Buijs used to address the team, Fortuna got into the game better. Nevertheless, no major chances were created.
The second half went up and down. Düsseldorf was close to doubling the margin with a shot from the second line, Fortuna countered with a few pinpricks. After the drinking break, the picture changed again. Fortuna took the initiative more and more. Iman Griffith had the biggest chance to equalize, but the wing attacker did not get a cross from Sadik Fofana behind the German goalkeeper. Fortuna still tried in the closing stages, but could not find the net.
Line-up: Koopmans, Pinto (46’ Guth), Fofana, Voet (61’ Dijks), Vita, Özyakup, Halilovic (46’ Robberechts), Oratmangoen (81' Griffith), Noslin (46’ Cordoba), Sierhuis (46’ Belkheir) en Griffith (61’ Rosier).