Welcome to our live blog! Here we will keep you fully informed of all the sports news in our province. First with FC Twente – Ajax and later on this Sunday AZ – FC Utrecht. Tips or questions? Email to [email protected].
LIVE: FC Twente – Ajax 1-1
4.45 pm AZ – FC Utrecht
Out of nowhere there is Wout Weghorst. The Ajax striker heads in the equalizer from a cross from the left. It is typical that Weghorst immediately after his goal seeks out trainer John Heitinga for a hug.
A clear signal from trainer John Heitinga. The Ajax coach makes two changes at half time. Ko Itakura and James McConnell make way for Youri Regeer and Owen Wijndal.
FC Twente will play together for the next chance. Thomas van de Belt is put away and delivers a cross to Sondre Orjasaeter, but the winger needs a little too much time. His shot is blocked and goes wide.
After just over half an hour of play, Ajax showed a slightly better phase. The Amsterdam team plays better in the match. It resulted in a shot from Kenneth Taylor, but goalkeeper Lars Unnerstal saved with his foot in the short corner.
There Ajax escapes the second goal. Ramiz Zerrouki is allowed to walk through and shoot. Josip Sutalo changes the direction of the ball and sails just wide of the goal of Remko Pasveer, who was nailed to the ground.
Finally Ajax looks dangerous for once. Wout Weghorst puts Raul Moro away well, he helps Lucas Rosa, but the attacking midfielder is slipped off the ball by a defender at the last moment. On the other hand, Remko Pasveer had to save again from a header by FC Twente.
Ajax looks very weak in the first twenty minutes. The Amsterdam team does not have much of the ball and has not yet created a chance. Only a blocked shot by Wout Weghorst has been recorded so far. FC Twente combines cheerfully and claims a second goal.
Ajax is having a very difficult time in the opening phase. The Amsterdammers hardly leave their own half. After a good attack on the left, Kristian Hlynsson almost scores his second. The shot goes one meter wide of Remko Pasveer’s goal.
The first opportunity is a hit for FC Twente. After three and a half minutes Ajax is behind. Kristian Hlynsson, of all people, taps in from close range from a corner kick.
The ball rolls in Enschede at FC Twente – Ajax
John Heitinga lashes out at ESPN in the interview before the match. “I guess you understand why I’m standing here? Because there are contractual obligations with ESPN.” The trainer reacts irritated to an article that the channel wrote last week to the effect that from the start there was little support within Ajax for Heitinga’s return as head coach. “I resent an article that contains so many untruths. It creates chaos,” the coach grumbles.
Reporter Cristian Willaert defends himself by saying that ESPN has spoken to 22 people within Ajax and that they have told things as they are written down. Heitinga reacts annoyed and curt: “Let’s focus on the match.”
1. Feyenoord 9-25 (25-6)
2. PSV 9 -22 (27-12)
3. AZ 9-18 (19-12)
4. FC Groningen 10-18 (16-14)
5. Ajax 9-16 (17-12)
6. Sparta 10-16 (14-22)
7. NEC 10-15 (27-19)
8. FC Twente 9-14 (17-14)
9. FC Utrecht 9-13 (18-11)
Ajax has not yet won an away game in the Premier League this season. The Amsterdammers are in any case in a crisis of form. Only one win has been achieved in the last seven matches in the various competitions.
FC Twente, on the other hand, has revived under new coach John van den Brom. Under the successor of the dismissed Joseph Oosting, the club collected 10 points in the last four competition matches.
Winter time started tonight. Nevertheless, Ajax has to start early today. The kick-off is at 12.15 pm in the Grolsch Veste against FC Twente. Will trainer John Heitinga be able to achieve a good result?