A week after the impressive victory at – at that time still leaders AZ – Feyenoord lost expensive points against mid-engined Fortuna Sittard. In their own Kuip, the Rotterdam team couldn’t get past a disappointing 1-1 draw after falling behind early on. A result that fits with the excellent performances of the Limburgers in recent weeks.

Despite all the excitement of the past week, Feyenoord started again with Orkun Kökcü as captain. The 21-year-old midfielder refused to wear the OneLove ribbon, which stands for unity and diversity and against any form of discrimination, for religious reasons at the away game against AZ. He was the only dissonant in the Eredivisie with Excelsior captain Redouan El Yaakoubi.

In Alkmaar they won 3-1, also thanks to a goal from Kökcü. All reason for coach Arne Slot to start the job against Fortuna Sittard with the same base, which, however, also traveled to De Kuip with the necessary confidence. Limburg could look back on an unbeaten run of five duels, thanks to which they climbed from sixteenth to tenth place in the rankings.

First in De Kuip

That showed up within ten minutes. Kökcü had already released a harmless slider when he lost the ball, be it because of a Limburg injury or not, and Fortuna was able to come forward, the jersey had no chance.

The 0:1 meant after four clean sheets the first home goal for Rotterdam this season.

After the opening goal, Feyenoord tried to increase the pressure on the Fortuna goal, but the pace was too slow to alert the grouped Limburger defenders. To the annoyance of Slot, who often reported to the sidelines during coaching, while Kökcü repeatedly showed that he couldn’t get the ball to a team-mate with arm gestures.

It was only in the 39th minute that Dávid Hancko forced Fortuna’s back post Ivor Pandur to make a save into the near corner and after Yilmaz shot hard wide of the goal on the other side after a long sprint duel with Gernot Trauner, Santiago Giménez was again given preference over club top scorer Danilo , just past the goal after a corner.

Fresh powers

With no fewer than three newcomers – Patrik Walemark, Marcos López and Danilo in the squad ahead of Marcus Pedersen, Jacob Rasmussen and Giménez – Slot was hoping to turn the tide. And that resulted in a result for the home side that looked much brighter immediately at 33 seconds. Quinten Timber took advantage of a Fortunee’s delay, tapping the ball to Javairô Dilrosun, who scored hard: 1-1.

The goalscorer also had the 2-1 on his boot just minutes later after a misunderstanding between Ximo Navarro and his goalkeeper Pandur, but he misdirected the ball. However, played at a higher tempo, the storm had begun. The possibilities are piling up too. For Kokcu, Sebastian Szymanski, Walmark. Fortuna replied with a lot of wasted time.

Opportunities for Paixao

In the middle of the second half, the visitors seemed to breathe again and Feyenoord’s attacking urge waned. Igor Paixão had to provide new impetus. The Brazilian made it 2-1 in no time at all, but headed wide after a nice pass from Walemark.

The header opportunity in the 88th minute was not given to Paixão, who also put Pandur to advantage with a shot. In extra time, a line from Szymanski went just wide.

And so the team from Rotterdam lost the chance to take the lead in the Eredivisie, even if only for a few hours.