Fortuna Sittard and ADO Den Haag Women's teams faced off on December 22, 2023, at the neutral venue of Echt, where maintenance on Fortuna's home ground required the switch. Despite the cold weather and crowd of about 350 spectators, the match ended without goals, leaving both teams searching for answers.
ADO Den Haag, under the new management of Marten Glotzbach, came out strong, clearly taking the initiative from the start. They were eager for victory, driven by their position just before the winter break and the need to secure points.
The first half saw ADO Den Haag dominating possession with several attempts on goal. Notably, Jill van den Ende made her first start of the season, and Anne van Egmond replaced the injured Iris Remmers. A series of corners highlighted their aggressive approach, with Daniëlle Noordermeer forcing the first keeper's intervention but failing to break the deadlock.
Following several other attempts, including Annouk Boshuizen's long-range effort, it remained frustrating for ADO Den Haag as keeper Dinkla of Fortuna Sittard made key saves, blocking well-placed shots, reflecting her excellent form.
Throughout the first half, the ADO players combined well, yet any attempt to convert remained thwarted, as they went to halftime with the scoreboard frustratingly reading 0-0.
Coming back from the break, both teams appeared more evenly matched. The second half opened with chances from both sides, but the sharpness needed to find the back of the net was lacking on the day. ADO Den Haag's Cheyenne van den Goorbergh and Van Egmond continued to pressure the Fortuna defense, yet to no avail.
Goalkeeper Barbara Lorsheyd was equally busy at the other end, ensuring her net remained untouched as Fortuna attempted to capitalize on counter-attacks. The tension built as each team failed to convert their chances, with keeper performances being the highlight of both sides' efforts.
The final whistle concluded the match with both teams registering as goalless. Each side walked away with just one point, reflecting on the match as one where they were unable to translate good efforts and superior play onto the score sheet.
With the winter break upon them, both teams will focus on regrouping and preparing for upcoming challenges. The final scoreline may not have captured the intensity and chances seen throughout the match, but it sets the stage for what fans can expect when the league returns after the break.
