Fortuna Sittard edge Groningen as defence stands tall | OneFootball

Match in Five Sentences: Fortuna Sittard beat Groningen 2-1 at Euroborg in the Eredivisie. Dies Janse put Groningen ahead in the sixth minute, turning in Younes Taha's corner from close range. Kaj Sierhuis levelled (12.) and Lance Duijvestijn headed the winner from Ivo Pinto's cross (32.), while a late VAR check produced no penalty for Fortuna Sittard in the sixth minute of second half stoppage time. Groningen registered 25 attempts and 16 corners but still could not break through. Fortuna Sittard rise from 12th to ninth and visit Heracles next, while Groningen drop from fifth to sixth and travel to Sparta Rotterdam next.

Player of the Match: Justin Hubner combined an assist for Kaj Sierhuis with 15 clearances and four aerial duels won, organising the visitors' back line under sustained pressure.

Stat of the Match: Groningen delivered 16 corners, yet produced only five attempts on target, a gap that underlined wasteful finishing.

Three Things We Learned: Groningen's set pieces posed a threat, with the opener coming from a corner and a tally of 16 corners overall. Fortuna Sittard were efficient, scoring twice from 10 attempts at 60.0% shot accuracy to flip the game before the break. The visitors' rearguard stood up to a barrage, registering 63 clearances with Mattijs Branderhorst adding four saves and six high claims.