For 90 minutes and a few seconds more, it looked like Fortuna Sittard had finally done something right. They had ground out a lead, protected it through wave after wave of NAC pressure, and were seconds away from three important points. Then Mohamed Nassoh hit one from 25 yards, it flew into the top left corner, and the visiting bench erupted.
Final score: Fortuna Sittard 1-1 NAC Breda. A point each. And for NAC — sitting 17th and scrapping for their top-flight lives — it felt like rather more than that.
The Stakes
This was never going to be a pretty game. Both clubs had reasons to be anxious. Fortuna came in 12th, safe for now but without a win in three, their earlier momentum having quietly drained away. NAC arrived in 17th, just two points above the relegation zone, knowing that defeat here would put them in real danger.
Fortuna were also carrying a considerable injury list. Mohamed Ihattaren — their most creative player, leading the squad with ten assists — was unavailable. Justin Lonwijk, Ramazan Bayram, Daley Sinkgraven and Alen Halilovic were all out too. Manager Danny Buijs was asking his squad to fill a big gap in the middle of the park.
NAC were without Moussa Soumano, and their own injury situation worsened early on when Lewis Holtby — their most important creative midfielder, the man behind five league assists — hobbled off after a challenge with Justin Hubner in the 37th minute. Mohamed Nassoh came on to replace him. That substitution would define the entire afternoon.
First Half: NAC Start Better, Koopmans Saves Fortuna
Despite the pre-match talk of Fortuna’s home advantage, NAC were the sharper side in the opening exchanges. As early as the 10th minute, Raul Paula delivered a cross from the right that André Ayew met with a firm header from close range — but Luuk Koopmans got across well and pushed it over. A warning Fortuna probably needed.
The home side slowly asserted themselves as the half wore on. Kristoffer Peterson and Lance Duijvestijn kept linking well in the attacking third, causing NAC’s defence problems with their movement. Limnios tried his luck from range twice without seriously testing the keeper. NAC held firm though, and with Holtby now off the pitch, their creative threat had reduced significantly.
The first half ended goalless. NAC had edged it statistically but Fortuna had grown into the game. Something was coming in the second half — the question was for whom.
Second Half: Peterson Strikes, Koopmans Keeps the Lead
Ten minutes after the restart, Fortuna got what they had been building towards. Neraysho Kasanwirjo — on loan from Feyenoord — collected the ball on the right and delivered a well-weighted cross to the far post. Kristoffer Peterson arrived completely unmarked and steered it in from close range. 1-0.
NAC needed a response and they pushed hard for one. Ayew had another headed effort — Koopmans tipped it over the bar. Kamal Sowah headed wide from a Denis Odoi cross. The visitors were probing, pressing, throwing numbers forward. And Koopmans just kept saving things. The Fortuna goalkeeper made six stops in total across the afternoon — it was one of those performances that keeps a point alive when your team has no right to be winning.
In the 82nd minute, Boy Kemper headed towards goal and Koopmans tipped it over again. The home fans could sense the finish line. Four minutes of stoppage time were signalled.
90+2′: Nassoh Ends It
It came from nothing, really. Amine Salama picked up the ball 25 yards out and fed it to Nassoh. The substitute had already steadied NAC’s midfield after coming on for Holtby, but nobody expected this. He took one touch to set himself and then drove a right-footed shot that bent into the top left corner. Koopmans did not move.
1-1. Nassoh sprinted towards the away support. His teammates mobbed him. Fortuna’s players slumped.
For a team that had just made six saves and been moments from victory, it was a brutal way to concede. For NAC, it was the kind of goal that can change the mood of a dressing room at a critical time.
What It Means
NAC stay 17th on 25 points — two above the bottom two — with their next match at home against Ajax. A tough fixture, but the momentum from this late point might carry something. Carl Hoefkens’ side still have it all to do, but they have shown they can compete even without their best players.
Fortuna drop two points they badly wanted. They stay 12th on 36 points, eight above the relegation zone but also seven short of the European spots. With Ihattaren still unavailable and their defensive frailty on full display — no clean sheet in 18 consecutive matches across all competitions heading into this game — there are real questions about how the season ends.
The statistics told an interesting story. NAC dominated possession at 56.5% to 43.5%, managed seven shots on goal to Fortuna’s two, and had 14 attempts overall to the hosts’ ten. They deserved at least a point on the numbers. They got it, just not when anyone expected.
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Match Summary
Fortuna Sittard 1-1 NAC Breda Eredivisie, Matchweek 30 | Sunday, 12 April 2026 Fortuna Sittard Stadion, Sittard | Attendance: 11,135 | Referee: Jeroen Manschot (NED)
Goals: Kristoffer Peterson 56′ (assist: Neraysho Kasanwirjo), Mohamed Nassoh 90’+2′ (assist: Amine Salama)
Fortuna Sittard (4-2-3-1): Koopmans; Dahlhaus, Hubner, Adewoye, Kasanwirjo; Brittijn, van Ottele; Peterson, Duijvestijn, Limnios; Sierhuis Subs used: Ihattaren (for Limnios), Gladon (for Sierhuis), Márquez (for Duijvestijn)
NAC Breda (4-2-3-1): Pasveer; Odoi, Greiml, Reulen, Paula; Holtby (Nassoh 37′), Talvitie (Ghalidi); Sowah, Jensen (Salama), Ayew; Johnson (van Ottele) Subs used: Nassoh (for Holtby 37′), Salama (for Jensen), Ghalidi (for Talvitie)
Yellow Cards: Kristoffer Peterson, Shawn Adewoye (Fortuna); André Ayew (NAC)
Stats: Possession: Fortuna 43.5% — NAC 56.5% | Shots on Goal: 2-7 | Attempts: 10-14 | Corners: 5-8 | Saves: 6-1 | Half-time: 0-0
