RKC can go celebrate carnival, hangover for Fortuna Sittard and trainer Velázquez

The carnival match between Brabant-based RKC and Limburg-based Fortuna Sittard was won 3-1 by the Waalwijkers. Fortuna still got a lead, but after a good Brabant quarter-hour they ended up empty-handed.

RKC traditionally played in a special carnival shirt on Carnival weekend. Last year, the Waalwijkers also managed to win at FC Twente in their special jersey. Fortuna stuck to a black jersey, but certainly did not play colorless.

The opening period was a polonaise of chances. After fifteen minutes of play, it was almost 1-0 for the home team. Michiel Kramer shot in a controlled manner, but saw his effort turned away by goalkeeper Ivor Pandur.

Not much later, Burak Yilmaz was close to a goal. The striker shot nail-bitingly towards the RKC goal, but too high. The biggest chance of the first phase in the match was for Fortuna’s Croatian Kristijan Bistrović after 18 minutes. After a beautiful attack, he aimed wide of goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen’s goal.

After just under half an hour, it was up to the home team again, but Michiel Kramer’s effort went just wide. After that, little to nothing happened in front of the goals for a long time. Until just before halftime, after an action by Thierry Lutonda, Iliass Bel Hassani was able to strike, but his effort was turned away by Pandur. Julian Lelieveld’s rebound went into the side netting.

RKC started better after halftime, but it was Yilmaz who scored for Fortuna Sittard. The Turkish striker shot the ball into the far corner from just outside the penalty area. It was already the captain’s ninth premier league goal.

Immediately afterwards, Yilmaz played another important role. His coach commented on referee Bas Nijhuis. The referee dealt a yellow card to Julio Velázquez, who got so angry about that that he kept sputtering. That earned him a second yellow card, so he was dismissed.

Yilmaz was eventually the one who had to calm his coach down and directed him to the locker room.

Fortuna almost took a 2-0 lead in the 62nd minute, but goalkeeper Vaessen intervened well on a flaming shot by Deroy Duarte. After that, the home team pressed on. Mats Seuntjens tried to hurt his old team, but shot over.

While Florian Jozefzoon shot high over in a promising position, Kramer equalized fifteen minutes before time. He rounded off a cross from Jozefzoon. Kramer did not celebrate immediately, because VAR checked for a foul by RKC goalkeeper Vaessen prior to the goal. He also checked that no one was offside. But the goal stood.

Five minutes before time, the home team made the party even bigger. Fortuna goalkeeper Pandur had to give away a rebound after a shot by Seuntjens and Spanish substitute Julen Lobete was then able to easily work the ball in: 2-1.

That it became 3-1 in the final minute completed the party. Jozefzoon convincingly fired in a deflected free kick from Seuntjens.

No more goals were scored in the nine minutes of injury time. There was a scuffle immediately afterwards, but Nijhuis dealt with it without any cards.

RKC captain Kramer had a nice evening despite his team’s disappointing play: