Sunday, February 27, 2022 at 08:08• Last update: 08:11

Maxim Gullit had to leave the field on Saturday with an apparently serious knee injury. In SC Cambuur’s home game against Fortuna Sittard (2-1 win), he only entered the field in extra time. Ruud Gullit’s son was injured after a collision with his own goalkeeper Sonny Stevens when both tried to clear a header from Paul Gladon. Trainer Henk de Jong acknowledged afterwards that Gullit may be sidelined for a long time.

Gullit cried out in pain. He was unable to leave the field on his own and was escorted from the field by stretcher by golf cart. “A serious injury”, said De Jong at ESPN† “Probably the knee ligament off. Very annoying. That boy is training well, he is really coming and then this happens to him. I am really upset about that.” Because Cambuur had already made five changes, he could no longer be replaced. Despite this, De Jong’s team crossed the line for its first win since December 10.

Twenty-year-old Gullit came over from Jong AZ last summer. He played seven games for Cambuur this season, each time as a substitute. He was not the only Cambuur player to be injured. Doke Schmidt, the hero of the evening with a spectacular save on the goal line, broke his nose in the final phase. “I already had a Schmidt nose, which is well known in the family. With a little bump. There is now a bulge,” the defender joked.

Cambuur remained unbeaten in all competitions for the eleventh consecutive home game against Fortuna Sittard: eight wins, three draws. Fortuna’s last win in Leeuwarden dates from April 2005 in the Eerste Divisie. For the first time in club history, Cambuur is in the left row ten games before the end of the Eredivisie season. Never before have the Leeuwarders achieved 33 points from the first 24 Eredivisie matches of a season (previously 30 in 2014/15).