For the first time since 2005, Ajax lost to Feyenoord at home. The team from Amsterdam turned a backlog before the break. That turned out not to be enough, because Feyenoord also did that in the second half. A late goal by Lutsharel Geertruida made it 2-3. Incidentally, it is also the first league defeat under John Heitinga.
Ajax had a dramatic start against Feyenoord. Santiago Gímenez shot the ball behind Geronimo Rulli from a cross by the returned Quilindschy Hartman: 0-1. The start of the team from Amsterdam was lackluster, but they increasingly came out of their shells. For example, a free kick by Steven Berghuis went just wide of the goal. That turned out to be a warning shot, as Edson Álvarez headed in behind Timon Wellenreuther: 1-1.
Steven Bergwijn also had a great chance. However, he was flagged for offside. Captain Dusan Tadic took his team by the hand and put Ajax ahead for the first time. The Serbian hit after a wide pass from Bergwijn. Feyenoord became dangerous just before half-time via Mats Wieffer. The midfielder headed the ball onto the roof of the goal.
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Pretty soon in the second half it was already equal in Amsterdam. A cross from Alireza Jahanbaksh is completed by Sebastian Szymanski: 2-2. Ajax had a hard time after the equalizer of the team from Rotterdam. The preponderance they had before the break was gone. Trainer John Heitinga tried to tilt the game image by making offensive changes. He brought Francisco Conceicao for Owen Wijndal and Brian Brobbey for Bergwijn.
On a pass from Klaassen, Mohammed Kudus had the chance to make it 3-2, but the Ghanaian shot wide via Wellenreuther. That turned out to be a fatal miss, as Lutsharel Geertruida headed in behind Rulli in the 86th minute: 2-3. Despite the six-minute injury time, Ajax was able to undo Feyenoord’s first victory since 2005.
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Analysis by Ajax coach John Heitinga after the loss against Feyenoord – NH News
Thanks to the Rotterdam victory, they remain the leader in the Eredivisie. Ajax now has six points less than Feyenoord. After the international break, Go Ahead Eagles is the next opponent.
Setup Ajax: Rulli; Sanchez, Timber, Bassey, Wijndal (Conceicao/64); Berghuis, Álvarez, Taylor (Klaassen/75); Kudus, Tadic, Bergwijn (Brobbey/75)
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