The starting line-up of the team from Amsterdam had some surprises. Erik ten Hag did not opt for a three-man vanguard and Steven Berghuis and Edson Alvarez were placed on the bench. This gave Youri Regeer his first base spot in the Eredivisie and Kenneth Taylor also appeared at the kick-off.
Apparently it was just a matter of time for the Ajax players to find out exactly how everything stood, because within 40 seconds PEC was close to 0-1. Maarten Stekelenburg was wrong with a cross from Thomas van der Belt, but Chardi Landu headed over. Four minutes later Ajax played itself in a promising position for the first time, but Ryan Gravenberch’s shot lacked both power and direction. After a number of small chances in the beginning, in which a cross by Davy Klaassen changed direction was actually the most dangerous, it took a long time before one of the two teams became dangerous again.
On the half hour there was suddenly Dusan Tadic. The Ajax captain received a deep ball from Taylor and took it from about eighteen meters on the slipper towards the far corner. Kostas Lamprou still dived, but had no chance. Minutes later, it could have been tied again, but Daishawn Redan got the ball behind him and his heel attempt flew high. Furthermore, it was Ajax that increased the pace, only Lamprou was not defeated again by shots from Tadic and Mohammed Kudus. The Ghanaian also blasted over from a difficult angle.
Shortly after the break it was 2-0. Jurriën Timber hit the post after a good pass from Tadic, after which it was a breeze for Davy Klaassen to tap in. Fifteen minutes later, it should also have been 3-0 for the team from Amsterdam, after Devyne Rensch and Tadic, who had just come in, released Sebastien Haller. The top scorer of the Eredivisie aimed wonderfully over the goal.
The third came ten minutes before the end. It was Klaassen who shot to an easy victory with a beautiful shot towards the far intersection of Ajax. The Eredivisie leader has won all of the last six games, but in five of the six cases the margin was only one. Moreover, the difference was often only made in the final minutes. That was not the case against Zwolle, although the number seventeen of the Eredivisie got quite a few chances. Dick Schreuder’s team could never strike, so that Ajax increased the gap with PSV to seven points for the time being.