AZ Alkmaar secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Fortuna Sittard in the Eredivisie, a result significantly influenced by an early red card for the home side. Fortuna Sittard were reduced to ten men in just the fifth minute when O. Romeny was shown a straight red card, leaving them with a mountain to climb. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Fortuna held firm for the first half, but the breakthrough came shortly after the restart. J. Hornkamp opened the scoring in the 58th minute, providing AZ with the lead they craved. The same player sealed the win in the dying moments, netting his second of the game in the 90th minute, assisted by C. Stengs, to confirm AZ's dominance.