Mohamed Ihattaren was the star in Fortuna Sittard's 3-2 away win at ADO Den Haag. The 24-year-old midfielder scored twice, but was kept from post-match interviews by head coach Danny Buijs. NOS Sport first reported the story.
The victory keeps Fortuna Sittard firmly in the top half of the Eredivisie. The team currently sits seventh with seven points from four games and a goal difference of plus one. They trail leaders PSV Eindhoven by six points. The next challenge is the home match against Ajax on September 12, as shown on our fixtures page.
How did the match against ADO unfold?
Fortuna Sittard was efficient in the first half despite few chances. Ihattaren opened the scoring after a scramble in the penalty area, with the ball deflecting off ADO defender Milan Hokke. Just before halftime, Ihattaren set up the second by perfectly finding Lequincio Zeefuik, who headed home. After the break, ADO Den Haag improved. Yannick Eduardo pulled one back following a move involving Evan Rottier.
Ihattaren restored Fortuna's two-goal cushion with his third goal of the evening. He fired a powerful long-range shot that went in via the underside of the crossbar. The midfielder celebrated by putting his hands behind his ears. ADO made it 3-2 in injury time through a Jesse Bal header, but that was the end of the scoring. The match statistics are available on our stats page.
Why was Ihattaren kept from the cameras?
Head coach Danny Buijs prevented his player from speaking to media after the final whistle. "Hoelang werk jij met hem, of werk ik met hem? We hoeven het er toch niet uitgebreid over te hebben." Buijs told reporters. The coach stated Ihattaren must first structurally focus on the things he needs to do. He declined to elaborate further on his decision.
Buijs's move doesn't come out of nowhere. Ihattaren has had a turbulent career. He broke through young at PSV, but after his father's death when he was 17, his form declined and his attitude was often discussed. There was even a period when he stopped playing football entirely. His current performances for Fortuna Sittard are therefore a significant chapter in his comeback story.
What does this mean for Fortuna's position?
The win keeps Fortuna Sittard in touch with the European places. With eight goals scored and seven conceded, the team shows solid defensive organization. The recent form of WLWD provides confidence ahead of the upcoming home match against Ajax. That opponent currently sits fifth, making them a direct competitor in the table. The current standings show how tight the mid-table is.
For ADO Den Haag, this was their sixth match without a win this season. The Hague side has yet to win any of their first five league games. Fortuna Sittard, meanwhile, continues to build steadily on a strong start to the campaign. The next test is at home against Ajax Amsterdam on September 12.
