Fortuna Women advance after win over Zwolle
Fortuna Women came into action Sunday for the first time in the KNVB Cup tournament. Thanks to goals by Tessa Wullaert and Maria Ólafsdóttir Gros, the Sittardeners triumphed against PEC Zwolle.
Head coach Roger Reijners' team had to travel to Nederweert-Eind for the game. At the sports complex of RKVV Eindse Boys the Belgian internationals were missing in the starting line-up. Claire Dinkla, Hanna Huizenga and Gros therefore appeared at the kick-off.
Fortuna started the game strongly and had several chances to open the score, but the front line's sights were not yet sharp. Huizenga failed to get a corner kick from Alieke Tuin between the posts. A few minutes later Huizenga sent Gros away, but the Icelandic attacker also failed to pass the PEC goalie.
After the tea break, Huizenga again had the perfect opportunity to give Fortuna the lead, but had to see her effort turned away. With an hour on the clock, Reijners decided to intervene: Wullaert came into the lines for Charlotte Hulst. It did not take long for the Belgian top shooter to hit the net: seven minutes after she came on she headed in the 1-0.
Gros doubled the margin ten minutes later. The teenager took full advantage of a sloppiness in the Zwolle defense. Evi Maatman's tying goal ten minutes before time brought the tension back. The visitors were unable to make a fist, so the 2-1 was enough to continue the calculation. The next round awaits Eredivisie frontrunner FC Twente.
Line-up: Dinkla, Iliano (82' Erman), Knol, Van Diemen, Tuin, Van Heeswijk, Antonsdottir, Foederer, Ólafsdóttir Gros, Huizenga and Hulst (60' Wullaert)