FC Volendam also failed to achieve a result in the Premier League in the fourth match. Despite the weak game, the team of coach Matthias Kohler took the lead against Fortuna Sittard. Ultimately, it succumbed to the pressure after the break and lost The New Orange with 3-1 in Limburg.
The still winless FC Volendam had Robert Mühren again in Sittard. The striker, who received a red card in the first match, immediately returned to the starting line-up. As a result, Lequincio Zeefuik moved back one line. With the changed line-up, the match started quite sloppily and unsettled. Volendam struggled to keep possession of the ball, but Fortuna was also inaccurate in passing.
Only after fifteen minutes did the North Hollanders get around to playing football. The first chance came from an action by Bilal Ould-Chikh, who passed Brian Plat in the penalty area, but the shot went straight at Fortuna goalkeeper Ivor Pandur. The pace was so slow that it was easy to defend for both teams.
The moment Fortuna accelerated through Alen Halilovic, it was immediately dangerous. Goalkeeper Mio Backhaus was able to make a one-handed save on a flaming shot. Then Halilovic’s cross landed on the foot of Dimitris Siovas, who hit the crossbar.
Beautiful hit
Volendam was quite disappointing in an attacking sense. The only thing the visitors could do towards half-time was a weak long shot from far too far from Zeefuik. However, Volendam took the lead out of nowhere just before half time through Garang Kuol. On a pass from Ould-Chikh, the 19-year-old loanee from Newcastle United made it 0-1 with a very nice shot in the crossbar.
Text continues below the tweet.
To view this content you must accept cookies.
Fortuna came out of the dressing room sharply and was immediately close to the equalizer. A sharp cross was turned away by Backhaus, but on the rebound Halilovic hit the post via the fingertips of the Volendam closing post. We had to wait until the Limburgers struck. An excellent Halilovic served substitute Oguzhan Özyakup with a nice pass. The Zaandammer immediately came face-to-face with Backhaus and scored the equalizer: 1-1.
Fortune turns it around
Volendam couldn’t bring much offensively throughout the match. The team played at too low a pace and also had little creativity. Fortuna Sittard became stronger and stronger and therefore took the lead. Tijjani Noslin headed in the 66th minute to give the home team a 2-1 lead and there was nothing to complain about. The Limburgers thus completely turned the game around after halftime. Standout Halilovic caused Volendam extra pain just before the end. To make matters worse, the talented midfielder also made it 3-1 for Fortuna Sittard.
Due to the defeat, Volendam still has zero points after four games. Together with Almere City, it is the only one still scoreless. Kohler’s team will receive PhD student Heracles Almelo to visit the fishing village next week.
FC Volendam line-up: Backhaus; Flat (Flint/80), Benamar, Mirani, Payne; Twigt, De Haan (Johnson/80), Zeefuik (Antonioli/64); Ould-Chikh, Mühren, Kuol (El Kadiri/80)