Feyenoord deals a huge blow to Ajax in Amsterdam

Fighting for every bit of space, meter by meter, man against man. Then another tackle here, then a body check there. Interspersed with technical feats, beautiful passes – apart from a rare dropout. All this in an intensity that you rarely see on the Dutch fields, with a portion of Mexican grinta. And with the momentum that kept switching. A Classic as Ajax-Feyenoord is intended.

The square at the Johan Cruijff Arena may fill up a little earlier than usual on Sunday at the beginning of the afternoon. A head-to-head duel for the lead – dare to be late. It is less than one o’clock when analyst Karim El Ahmadi, former Feyenoord player, wonders in the press room whether the lineups are already known. Not yet, no.

Ajax, the club of structural success, against Feyenoord, the club of the moment. It didn’t disappoint for a second, Sunday afternoon in an excited, blistering arena. Then frantic again, then sighing in dissatisfaction. A sea of ​​red and white flags and a fireworks show as a welcome reception. Ajax must do that to repair the three-point deficit on Feyenoord. Feyenoord that especially does not want to lose, so as not to let Ajax come closer. Feyenoord feels the burden of the history of this game; it last won in August 2005 in Amsterdam. Ajax substitute Jorrel Hato, from March 2006, had yet to be born.

Early opening goal

In a match meeting at AZ, where he was previously a trainer, current Feyenoord coach Arne Slot once compared Ajax to cyclist Lance Armstrong. “Laughing into the camera that it looks like he’s strong when he wasn’t strong. Ajax did that too, when they were not strong,” he said in the podcast in November With open visor. “I always make our team bigger than they are, the opponent always smaller.” With AZ he managed to win in the Arena three years ago.

Now his Feyenoord is already 0-1 after five minutes. Oussama Idrissi opens on left back Quilindschy Hartman who serves Santiago Giménez with a beautiful street football action – a sensitive ball from behind. The Mexican striker shoots in in a completely free position. Giménez visits the public, perhaps not yet familiar with the lack of away supporters in Classic since 2009.

Feyenoord finds Ajax’s weak spot flawless, in the person of left central defender Calvin Bassey. He is always awarded the ball during the build-up, which he often surrenders due to his limited technique and the pressure from Feyenoord.

The mutual duels are immediately visible. Mohammed Kudus against Hartman. Steven Berghuis against Orkun Kökcü. Kenneth Taylor vs Mats Wieffer. The sparks fly, the irritations too. Ajax is razor sharp in the duels, where Feyenoord finds the patterns more easily – so firmly anchored under coach Slot.

Suddenly it is 1-1, after fifteen minutes. A turning corner from Berghuis heads in the Mexican Edson Alvarez. Berghuis, who made a much-discussed switch from Feyenoord to Ajax in 2021, goes completely wild with joy on his own. Alvarez wanted to leave on the last day of the summer transfer window after a bid from Chelsea, but the club management did not allow it. Now he is one of the leaders of this Ajax, takes the team in tow.

Steven Bergwijn whips up the audience after a sprint in the depth, where coach John Heitinga is almost in the field when he gives instructions. Hartman is close to his second yellow card after a charge, his regular replacement Marcos Lopez is immediately instructed to warm up. Berghuis falls to the ground begging if that card is not given. Moments later, Hartman, who was ill last week, is replaced by Marcos Lopez.

The pressure from Ajax is enormous, with a lot of power play, which almost turns Feyenoord upside down. Around the center circle is the Berghuis who sends Bergwijn into the depth with a beautiful ball, on which striker Dusan Tadic comes in and slides the ball in in the far corner: 2-1. Feyenoord does not seem to be affected and continues to play from the organization.

Well-groomed team football

Fifteen minutes after the break, Feyenoord plays very well-groomed team football, every time they manage to find the free man. Ajax, perhaps lulled by the lead, is hanging in the ropes. The audience grows impatient, whistles are heard. It is waiting for the 2-2, which also falls. A cross from right winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh is mercilessly shot in by attacking midfielder Sebastian Szymański.

Feyenoord is in control, keeps Ajax under control. But don’t know how to push through. Where Ajax gradually manages to find the rhythm again. Twenty minutes before the end, Slot made a very offensive change, including striker Danilo instead of midfielder Szymanński. He was once taught to take more risks in situations like this than to think too defensively.

Although Ajax still gets a huge chance, six minutes before the end. A shot from Kudus, in free position, is caught by keeper Timon Wellenreuther. It turns out to be a decisive save. Two minutes later, from a corner kick by Kökcü, Feyenoord defender Lutsharel Geertruida headed in after a header from David Hancko. 2-3. The finale of a spectacle. The Arena falls silent, quieter than with the other goals. The public immediately leaves en masse.

For example, Feyenoord deals a huge blow to Ajax. With eight games to go, the lead is now six points. Where the Feyenoord program seems a bit easier on paper; Ajax is still waiting at home, including AZ and still has to go to PSV. Feyenoord celebrated it exuberantly, the first victory in eighteen years in Amsterdam, at a crucial moment in the title fight.

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