Ajax has again suffered damage in a top match. This time PSV was the winner in the Johan Cruijff Arena. The people of Eindhoven were too strong with 2-1. That was the first time in the competition since 2015 that PSV won in Amsterdam.
There were a number of changes in Ajax’s basic line-up compared to Tuesday against Rangers FC. Devyne Rensch was surprisingly left back, because of the injury of Owen Wijndal. Daley Blind started on the bench. In addition, Brian Brobbey and Mohammed Kudus both kicked off. That was at the expense of Kenneth Taylor. After an opening phase in which PSV was slightly stronger, Ajax got a good chance through Steven Berghuis. He shot from a falling ball just over the goal.
The Eindhoven team’s first real opportunity went straight into it. Luuk de Jong dived for Calvin Bassey from a low cross by Cody Gakpo and tapped the striker in: 0-1. The team from Amsterdam quickly tried to level up and became dangerous through Brian Brobbey and Berghuis. Both attempts were stopped by Walter Benítez. Kudus had the chance to equalize just before half-time. The Ghanaian shot the post.
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PSV more dangerous
After the break, Ajax’s hopes were quickly dashed. Goal scorer De Jong held the ball well and passed it to Erick Gutierrez. The Mexican roasted the ball into the Ajax goal: 0-2. Edson Álvarez, Ajax’s Mexican midfielder, tried to outwit Benítez, but his bet was saved. PSV seemed to get a penalty a few minutes later. Rensch brought down Xavi Simons in the box, the penalty kick was reversed after VAR interference.
The team from Amsterdam got away again moments later. A free kick by substitute Anwar El Ghazi (ex-Ajax) ended on the crossbar above Remko Pasveer. Lorenzo Lucca took care of the connecting goal just before time, but Ajax didn’t get any further: 1-2.
Due to the defeat, PSV takes over the lead from Ajax. The team from Amsterdam still has a make-up game against Vitesse ahead of next Tuesday.
Ajax setup: feather key; Sanchez, Timber, Bassey, Rensch (Taylor/66); Álvarez, Berghuis, Kudus (Klaassen/81); Bergwijn, Brobbey, Tadic (Lucca/81)