After four days, Ajax has said goodbye to its historic last place in the Premier League. With coach John van ‘t Schip at the helm, the Amsterdam team won 2-0 against FC Volendam at home. For Ajax it means the first victory in the Premier League since August 12.
Despite the storm, the match between numbers eighteen and sixteen in the rankings continued as usual. Initially the match was to be played at the end of September, but because De Klassieker was stopped and had to be played out, Ajax – FC Volendam was moved to tonight.
John van ‘t Schip, the brand new coach who was presented at Ajax on Monday, opted for one change in the lineup. Ar’Jany Martha made her debut as a left back for the Amsterdam team. At FC Volendam, Darius Johnson earned a starting place for his good performances in recent weeks.
Rain of opportunity
The Amsterdam team, who started the game at the bottom of the Premier League, got off to a good start against Volendam. Steven Berghuis had a great chance after five minutes, but his effort went just wide. It turned out to be the starting signal for a rain of opportunities in the first half. Volendam goalkeeper Mio Backhaus had to save several times on shots from Berghuis, Kenneth Taylor and Kristian Hlynsson. After half an hour, Ajax came closest to the opening goal through Steven Bergwijn, but the Ajax captain hit the crossbar after a good move on the left side.
The team of Volendam coach Matthias Kohler played an uncertain first half in Amsterdam. Occasionally the Volendam team came out dangerous, but Robert Mühren was at the front on an island. The striker tried from a difficult angle just before half-time, but Ajax goalkeeper Diant Ramaj kept his goal clean. Just before half time, Taylor had another great chance from a deflected cross, but his attempt went wide.
Mountain wine
Ajax’s attacking drive continued happily after the break. Backhaus had to save the day several times again. The German goalkeeper even had a cat-like reflex on a slow ball from Bergwijn. In the 57th minute, Backhaus was unable to respond to a bet from the Ajax captain. Bergwijn cut inside and hit the ball hard against the ropes: 1-0.
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Although Volendam had very little to offer offensively, it almost scored the opening goal. Josip Sutalo headed the ball back and launched Robert Mühren. The FC Volendam striker went straight at Ramaj, but the Ajax keeper made a good save on the bet. Ramaj distinguished himself again a few minutes later, as he headed Damon Mirani’s header just over the goal.
Liberation
On the other hand, part of the stadium thought that Steven Berghuis scored the second goal, but his effort sailed narrowly wide. Ajax fans held their breath, because confidence was fragile. Just before the end, substitute Chuba Akpom hit the crossbar for Ajax. In injury time he put an end to all uncertainty by heading in the 2-0. The striker could have crowned his substitute with a second goal, but after passing Backhaus he miraculously hit the post.
Thanks to the victory, Ajax climbs to fifteenth place in the Premier League and surpasses Volendam. Going next Sunday the Eel farmers iIn the Premier League we visit NEC at 2:30 PM and Ajax visits SC Heerenveen at 4:45 PM.
Ajax line-up: Ramaj; Gaaei, Sutalo, Hato, Martha (Salah-Eddine/65); Taylor (Vos/78), Van den Boomen, Hlynsson (Godts/86); Berghuis, Brobbey (Akpom/78), Bergwijn
FC Volendam line-up: Backhaus; Payne (Douiri/63), Benamar, Flint, Cox; Mirani, Twigt (Van Driel/90), De Haan (Zeefuik/63), Ould-Chikh (Kuol/78), Mühren, Johnson