Fortuna Sittard has lost the crucial match against PEC Zwolle in the Eredivisie with 0-1. Thirteen minutes before the end, Oussama Darfalou decided the relegation cracker with a header. Fortuna drops to the penultimate place.
There was a lot at stake in the battle against relegation for both teams. Yuta Nakayama took the first shot on goal in the fourth minute of distance, but that was no problem for Yanick van Osch. Shortly afterwards, Paul Gladon served Zian Flemming with a pass, but goalkeeper Kostas Lamprou got to the ball before Flemming can get dangerous.
Messy
In the first fifteen minutes, both teams acted chaotic. The teams gave each other little space and the game was even. George Cox was left with a corner from a shot on goal and a tight cross from the Englishman also disappeared in the hands of goalkeeper Lamprou.
Under fire
Halfway through the first half, Mees de Wit and Daishawn Redan fired on the Sittard goal, but Yanick van Osch parried the attacks. Fortuna tried to pressure the PEC defense. A shot by Andreas Samaris disappeared high over the Zwolle box and Zian Flemming saw his shot saved by the Zwolle goalie. Pelle Clement created danger from the PEC side, but two shots on target were cracked by Fortuna’s defence. Shortly before half-time, Paul Gladon tried to work the ball into the Zwolle goal with his head, but goalkeeper Lamprou again proved to be an obstacle.
Second half
PEC Zwolle had most of the ball in the first minutes after the break and created danger for the first time three minutes after the restart. On a pass from Mees de Wit, Oussama Darfalou headed just wide. Zian Flemming didn’t get the ball well after that to create real danger for Lamprou’s goal.
at arrears
Halfway through the second half, Charlison Benschop shot the ball into PEC’s goal, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Fortuna seemed completely on point, but that was short-lived. PEC took the initiative, put pressure on Fortuna and got two chances to open the score through substitute Gervane Kastaneer. Van Osch intervened, but had no chance when Oussama Darfalou headed the ball into the goal: 0-1.
Fortuna then tried to equalize with the courage of despair, but failed to change the situation.