On a crystal clear winter day, it took a long time before it burned loose. Ajax against Feyenoord was a duel in large parts in which the limitations of both teams became visible. Lack of creativity, in extraordinary class, in dominance. But an extraordinary final phase reimbursed a lot. Ajax won, in extremis, 2-1.
In this way it felt as usual in and around the Johan Cruijff Arena – Ajax back on his throne. Early in the afternoon, supporters happily kicked a ball at the stadium. Slowly the belief in something beautiful returns – although that ‘something’ is not yet tangible.
In an unexpected unpredictable season, it can just happen for Ajax. The championship, something that was considered unthinkable for a long time. Ajax has the least loss points, because PSV continues to spill points, again against NEC (3-3) on Saturday. If Ajax manages to win the catch -up match against Go Ahead Eagles – later this month – it can take over the leading position of PSV.
Unrest on the transfer market, which closes on Tuesday evening, determined sentiment in the run -up. Two hours before the kick-off, Ajax announces that attacker Chuba Akpom will be rented to Lille, after it had already been leaked on Saturday that Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenéz is leaving for AC Milan for around 35 million euros. Ajax captain Jordan Henderson just starts in the base, where there was a lot to do in recent days around a possible transition to AS Monaco.
Puzzle
“Since the start of the season, puzzling has been my biggest hobby,” said Ajax coach Francesco Fararian on Friday. It is no different towards the classic. Left winger Oliver Edvardsen, bought from Go Ahead Eagles, is not yet entitled to play. Because the injured winger Mika Godts is also not available, Fharioli has a problem on the left. He solves that by surprising Steven Berghuis on that flank.
It is he who shoots hard after ten seconds to the top left corner, with that left leg with which he was successful from the right. Feyenoord goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther barely saves. Furious is the start of Ajax, with two corner kicks within a minute. Feyenoord midfielder In-Beom Hwang is rowing a ball high in his own penalty area.
It is long scanning, patient searching for an opening. Sometimes it is somewhat timid, for a confrontation that is called the classic. Although there are also nice mutual duels in midfield, with Davy Klaassen and Henderson from Ajax against Antoni Milambo and the new Polish inspector Jakub Moder at Feyenoord.
Feyenoord is comfortable in the attack structure, but the good intentions often beach when the enemy penalty area comes into view. The offside players, Igor Paixao and Anis Hadj Moussa, regularly make the wrong choices in promising situations. Exemplary is Paixao who, after a slipper from Josip Sutalo, shoots selfish from a distance, where Ayase Ueda next to him is a better option. The Japanese, who rarely shows his emotions, reacts furiously when the shot is high.
Brobbey scores its second
Ajax keeps the organization closed, carefully chooses its moments. This way it almost silently escapes on the left flank, in the 37th minute. Jorrel Hato gives a sensitive pass at Berghuis, which aims at Wellenreuther, after which the ball just ends up in front of the feet of the detached Brian Brobbey by the goalkeeper. With his left shin he fumbles the ball in: 1-0. His first premier league goal since 24 November and only his second this competition. As a thank you, his name echoes through the stadium.
Almost immediately afterwards Ajax seems to double the score via an almost identical attack. But Bertrand Traoré heads on the bar, from a cross from Henderson. They are sudden burping in a team in which defensive control is the most important starting point. It is good to see in the second half, when substitute Quinten Timber fights past Sutalo. He shoots hard, but Henderson crawls in front of blocking the ball.
Exemplary of the development that Ajax has undergone compared to last season, is the right back Anton Gaaei. De Jonge Dane was still the Schlemiel with two personal mistakes at the last classic in Amsterdam, autumn 2023. Now Gaaei takes corner kicks and free kicks and he often chooses the attack via the flank. Although not all he is doing now is good.
Feyenoord checks in the first part of the second half. Get opportunities, such as via Milambo. Crucial is the insertion of the returned Quinten Timber for Jakub Moder in the sixtieth minute. He takes control, is physically strong. After seven minutes he first shoots dangerously from a distance and then fights through the penalty area and concludes with a shot that rolls in through the inside of the post: 1-1.
Pine -up
The most fascinating phase must then come. First, arbitrator Danny Makkelie gives a penalty kick to Ajax, after an intervention by David Hancko on the in -depth Wout Weghorst. The tackle is used outside the penalty area, but the video arbitrator decides that it is a justified penalty. Weghorst stands behind the ball, shoots in the left corner, Wellenreuther saves with both hands. Paired looks at the stands.
A few minutes later, Hadj Moussa gets a big chance, but shoots at the body of goalkeeper Remko Pasveer diagonally before the Ajax goal. Where Christian Rasmussen is also too rushed in a dangerous outbreak of Ajax.
It shows that there are many spaces – on both sides. In the fourth of eight minutes extra time, Gaaei combines with Weghorst for an attack on the right flank. Gaaei is going well, has some time. Kenneth Taylor sees it happen, anticipating a walking action from the left zone through the heart of the Feyenoord defense. The low cross from Gaaei is perfectly customized, in the run on Taylor. He shoots in with right, under Wellenreuther.
Faroli runs into the field, ecstatic. It remains 2-1. ‘Nothing at all in Rotterdam’, it sounds massive around half past four – Feyenoord has been set at twelve points by the victory and virtually hopeless for the title and second place. Ajax can, for the first time in years, look down again.
