Fortuna Sittard secured a much-needed victory against RKC Waalwijk on December 17, 2023, breaking their four-match winless streak. The match, held at Fortuna's home ground, not only marked three important points for the team, but it also served as the backdrop for remembering the legacy of Frans Körver, the former coach who recently passed away at the age of 87. Before kick-off, players and fans observed a minute of silence in his honor.
From the very first whistle, Fortuna Sittard demonstrated dominance. RKC Waalwijk struggled to find their footing, and it didn't take long for the home team to capitalize on their opponents' vulnerabilities. Alessio Da Cruz opened the scoring just six minutesinto the match when he converted Ezequiel Bullaude’s low cross, bringing the fans to their feet. This early goal set the tone for the rest of the half.
By the 30th minute, Kristoffer Peterson doubled the lead, evading RKC's defenders with ease before slotting the ball away. It was becoming apparent: if RKC wanted to stave off relegation, they needed to tighten their defense. The first half wrapped up with Bullaude scoring the third goal, heading home from Peterson's corner kick, leaving the scoreboard reading 3-0.
When the second half commenced, RKC seemed reinvigorated. The team appeared to have shaken off their initial lethargy, pushing forward more aggressively. It was Oskar Zawada, the Polish striker, who quietly became the savior for the struggling side. Just before halftime, he found the net for RKC, giving the visitors something to build on as they went down the tunnel. Although they ended the half with three goals scored against them, Zawada’s efforts hinted at optimism for the second act.
It was Zawada again who struck ten minutes after the restart, making the score 3-2. With this goal, RKC found themselves right back in the contest, and the atmosphere grew tense, as fans wondered if they would see the equalizer. Fortuna’s defense began showing signs of pressure, and coach Danny Buijs had to rethink his strategy.
Buijs responded by substituting players: Mitrovic and Halilovic were replaced by Pinto and Aïko, hoping to refresh the lineup. Though this strategic shift seemed to momentarily boost Fortuna's composure, they were repeatedly put to the test by RKC’s rampant offense.
With the minutes ticking away, Fortuna Sittard almost added to their tally when they came close to scoring their fourth, but RKC’s goalkeeper, Houwen, made some remarkable saves to deny them. Despite their desperate attempts, including multiple close chances, the much-anticipated fourth goal never materialized.
Fortuna held on until the final whistle, relieved to secure all three points. This match brought their total to 22 points from 16 games, placing them safely away from the relegation zone, but still with plenty to play for as the season progresses.
For RKC Waalwijk, the loss was disheartening and left them stranded at the bottom of the league table with only six points. While Mohamed Ihattaren, who returned to the starting lineup for RKC, showed flashes of brilliance, the rest of the team couldn't support his efforts adequately.
Looking forward, Fortuna Sittard prepares for their next challenge as they head out to face FC Utrecht on December 22, 2023, for their last match before the winter break. They hope to build momentum from this victory, working to turn their season around.
This match was more than just three points; it served as both a morale booster for Fortuna and as tribute to the late Frans Körver, whose contributions to Dutch football will not be forgotten.
