VVV Venlo vs Fortuna Köln

Romeo Aigbekaen's 28th-minute rebound was the difference as Fortuna Köln beat VVV-Venlo 1-0 in the Herman & Wiel Teeuwen Memorial at Seacon Stadion - De Koel, a pre-season friendly marred by a contentious red card for home defender Tijn Joosten.

Fortuna Köln started the stronger side. Youri Schoonderwaldt denied the visitors with a save from distance in the 16th minute, while Edhy Zuliani's cut inside and shot was blocked at the other end a minute later.

The breakthrough came in the 28th minute. Jasper Löffelsend drove down the right and delivered a precise cross. Timo Bornemann's effort struck the post, but Romeo Aigbekaen reacted quickest and slid the rebound into the left corner.

VVV grew into the game after the goal. Nassim Ait Mouhou beat his man on the left flank in the 35th minute and aimed for the far corner, but Fortuna goalkeeper Winkler turned it away. The hosts went in 0-1 down at half-time.

Fortuna controlled the opening phase of the second half without creating clear chances. Aigbekaen came close to a second in the 53rd minute, weaving through on the left and smashing a shot off the crossbar.

The match swung decisively in the 68th minute when Tijn Joosten was shown a second yellow card — but the referee had mistakenly credited him with a caution that actually belonged to Gabin Blancquart, per VVV-Venlo's official match report. VVV were reduced to ten men through an administrative error.

Paradoxically, playing shorthanded sparked VVV into life. Jorden Aigboje was fouled after being played through in the 72nd minute; Alex Schalk curled the resulting free-kick just over the bar. Fortuna goalkeeper Zich made a spectacular heel save to deny Luca Majetic from a corner with ten minutes left.

Schoonderwaldt joined the attack for a corner in the 90th minute but headed narrowly over, and the final whistle confirmed a 0-1 defeat.

Romeo Aigbekaen (Fortuna Köln) — Scored the winner, hit the crossbar, and was a constant threat. The forward's movement and finishing decided the game.

Jasper Löffelsend (Fortuna Köln) — Created the goal with a strong run and cross down the right. "The win was deserved, and we could have added one or two more goals late on. Fortuna is my first station in German professional football. I want to prove I have what it takes," he told the club's website.

Youri Schoonderwaldt (VVV-Venlo) — Kept the scoreline respectable with several saves, including a spectacular heel stop from a corner in the closing stages.

The match produced only one goal despite Fortuna's territorial dominance in both halves. The visitors' chance quality was markedly superior: Aigbekaen's goal, his crossbar effort, and Majetic's late chance all represented high-probability opportunities. VVV's best chances — Ait Mouhou's 35th-minute shot and Schalk's free-kick — were from lower-percentage positions. The red card actually improved VVV's attacking output, as they created more in the final 22 minutes with ten men than they had in the previous 68 with eleven.

The match was the centrepiece of VVV's fan day, with the 2026-27 squad presented to supporters before kick-off. VVV — preparing for the Eerste Divisie season — conclude their pre-season against KAS Eupen on 1 August at Sportpark Kerkebos in Swolgen.

Fortuna Köln, who play in Germany's Regionalliga West, followed this win with a 4-0 victory over SSVg Velbert on 26 July, completing a clean-sheet weekend for Matthias Mink's side. "It was a great test match. We had top conditions in a very charming stadium against a tough opponent. We're continuing to develop well," Mink said.

A pre-season friendly decided by one moment of quality and overshadowed by a refereeing error that would have been costly in a competitive fixture. Fortuna looked the sharper side for long stretches and deserved the win. VVV will need more cutting edge before the Eerste Divisie campaign begins.