Fortuna Sittard secured a key away win and climbed to eighth place in the Eredivisie. A goal from Philip Brittijn twenty minutes from time decided the match at Willem II with a 0-1 scoreline.
Manager Danny Buijs's side started the match in Tilburg with Anthony Descotte as striker, ahead of club top scorer Lequincio Zeefuik. The lineup also featured three former Willem II players: Mattijs Branderhorst, Jasper Dahlhaus and Ole Romeny. After just two minutes, referee Dennis Higler consulted the VAR following a challenge by Nathan Tjoe-A-On on captain Ivo Pinto, but no penalty was awarded.
Willem II created chances through Devin Haen and loanee Eser Gürbüz, but Fortuna remained dangerous. Mohamed Ihattaren, who has three goals this season, also tried his luck. After the break, Willem II goalkeeper Maxim Delanghe saved a powerful shot from Brittijn. When Zeefuik came on after an hour, he thought he had scored, but the goal was disallowed for a foul. Buijs protested the decision vigorously from the touchline.
The decisive moment arrived in the 80th minute. Delanghe parried a header from Zeefuik, and Brittijn fired home the rebound. The victory takes Fortuna Sittard to ten points from six matches. The full standings show a six-point gap to leaders PSV.
For Willem II, which is yet to win a match this season, the defeat meant bottom spot. The Tilburg side has two points from seven games, level with ADO Den Haag who drew. Fortuna Sittard can now look ahead with confidence to their next fixture, a home match against FC Twente on October 10. The current fixtures list shows the complete schedule.
Background and full detail: Voetbal International
