Fortuna Sittard Edge Groningen 3-2 in Eredivisie Thriller

Fortuna Sittard broke Groningen hearts with a chaotic 3-2 away victory in the Eredivisie’s fourth round, as Justin Hubner’s 87th-minute own goal set up a nerve-shredding finale that ultimately couldn’t salvage a point for the hosts.

Fortuna Sittard strike first through Ihattaren

The visitors silenced Euroborg Stadium after just 12 minutes when Mohammed Ihattaren – the former PSV wonderkid rebuilding his career – slotted home from Lequincio Zeefuik’s cutback. Groningen’s sluggish start was punished again when Rodrigo Guth saw yellow for hacking down Thom van Bergen, the home crowd’s groans growing louder with every misplaced pass.

Van der Werff sparks Groningen fightback

Captain David van der Werff dragged Groningen level on 19 minutes, meeting Jorg Schreuders’ whipped cross with a bullet header that sparked wild celebrations. But parity lasted just nine minutes. Édouard Michut’s threaded pass found Zeefuik, who drilled low past Etienne Vaessen to restore Fortuna’s lead against the run of play.

Descotte’s dagger leaves Groningen reeling

Dick Lukkien’s double substitution on 64 minutes – introducing Johan Ondrejka and Oliver Zawada – briefly injected urgency. But Fortuna struck the decisive blow eight minutes later, Michut turning provider again as Anthony Descotte finished clinically from close range. The stats told the story of Groningen’s frustration: 22 total shots to Fortuna’s 9, but just 2 on target as wave after wave broke against Danny Buijs’ disciplined low block.

Late drama as Hubner gifts Groningen hope

When Hubner diverted Prins’ cross into his own net with three minutes left, Euroborg erupted. Vaessen’s yellow card for timewasting reflected the desperation as Groningen launched balls into the box. But Fortuna held firm through seven agonizing minutes of stoppage time, Michut’s late booking the only blemish as Sittard climbed to seventh with this smash-and-grab win.

Groningen’s 68% possession counted for nothing – their second straight defeat leaving them languishing in 14th. For Fortuna, this was proof their counter-attacking blueprint works: clinical when it mattered, stubborn when required, and now just three points off the Eredivisie summit.