Fortuna too strong for straggler Vitesse

Head coach Danny Buijs did not have a number of regulars in his team against Vitesse. Rodrigo Guth was suspended and Dimitrios Siovas was absent due to injury. In defense, Sadik Fofana and Siemen Voet made their first appearances this season. Midfielder Loreintz Rosier also had to watch injured, Arianit Ferati was his replacement.

After 18 seconds, Fortuna's first goal was already a fact. After a tailored ball from captain Ivo Pinto, one of the standouts on the Sittard side, to Sierhuis, he appeared free in front of goalkeeper Eloy Room. The center striker scored with a crafty effort: 1-0. Sierhuis tested the qualities of the guests' goalkeeper two more times before halftime, both times the keeper had a fine reaction. Halfway through the first half Sierhuis did score his second goal of the evening, again on a pass from Pinto. From about twelve meters he fired in a hard shot: 2-0. Vitesse could hardly do anything in the first half.

Soon after halftime Fortuna scored the third goal of the evening. Mitchel Dijks played the ever hard working Iñigo Córdoba on the left side of the pitch, who surprised his direct opponent with a cross. Noslin gained possession of the ball, got rid of Dominik Oroz and scored in the far corner: 3-0. Barely a minute later Vitesse also had to continue with a man less, after a rash action against Cordoba, Melle Meulensteen received his second yellow card of the evening.

In the remainder of the second half Fortuna had several big chances to extend the score further, but no fourth goal. Almost out of nowhere Vitesse scored after 64 minutes, Million Manhoef left Fortuna goalkeeper Ivor Pandur defenseless: 3-1. After just over 70 minutes of play, Sierhuis had two chances from the penalty spot to complete his hat-trick. With the first effort Room had a fine reflex, but the VAR determined that the goalkeeper had come off the line too early. Fortuna's striker was allowed a new attempt, but the goalie of the guests also turned this effort away. Ten minutes before time Pinto was again very important for his team, he prevented a goal by Marco van Ginkel with a good block. This prevented a really exciting finale.

Line-up: Pandur, Pinto, Fofana, Voet, Dijks, Ferati (77’ Robberechts), Halilovic (88’ Oratmangoen), Duarte, Córdoba (88’ Vita), Noslin (77’ Griffith), Sierhuis (85’ Belkheir)