After a number of difficult duels, Ajax once again simply won. PEC Zwolle was defeated 3-0 in the Johan Cruijff Arena. Goals came from Davy Klaassen (2) and Dusan Tadic.
The starting position of Ajax was different from normal. Instead of the traditional 4-3-3, it played 4-4-2 with Sébastien Haller and Dusan Tadic in the center and Davy Klaassen behind it. They seemed to have to get used to the new formation, because PEC had a big chance within 40 seconds. After a good cross from Thomas van den Belt, Maarten Stekelenburg was wrong, Charli Landu headed over from close range. Opposite this Ajax could only make a few pinpricks in the initial phase. That happened via Ryan Gravenberch (a weak long shot) and Davy Klaassen (cross unfortunately extended by Yuta Nakayama).
Dusan Tadic broke the spell after half an hour from a deep pass by Kenneth Taylor. The Serb let the ball bounce and then hit the ball hard behind Kostas Lamprou (former keeper of Ajax): 1-0. Daishawn Redan then had the chance to equalize after Gervane Kastaneer headed the ball back. The Amsterdammer shot far over. The chances for the Zwolle players kept lurking, because Landu could easily continue after a nonchalant action by Jurrien Timber. This time the attacker’s effort was too soft. Just before half time Ajax pushed through Tadic and Mohamed Kudus, but the score remained unchanged.
Watch Tadic’s beautiful goal below:
Two goals Klaassen
After the break, a lot less happened than in the first half. The first chance of the team from Amsterdam was almost immediately hit. Timber hit the post after a cross from Tadic. In the rebound Davy Klaassen was able to simply shoot the ball into the empty goal: 2-0. The level of the match dropped after that and it took a long time before Ajax became dangerous again. Tadic awarded Haller a simple tap after 68 minutes, but the Ivorian shot the ball sky high. In the end Klaassen made the decision after 80 minutes with a magnificent curling ball: 3-0.
Due to Ajax’s victory, the pressure is once again on the closest attacker PSV, which will play against Willem II tomorrow afternoon.
Ajax setup: Stekelenburg; Reign (Rensch/67), Timber, Blind, Tagliafico; Taylor (Álvarez/82), Gravenberch, Kudus (Berghuis/57), Klaassen, Tadic, Haller (Brobbey/81)