Ajax has finally managed to win again in the competition. A visit to Excelsior Rotterdam made it 4-1. That was the first victory since October 22 (!) against RKC Waalwijk. Dusan Tadic, Davy Klaassen, Mohammed Kudus and Devyne Rensch scored the goals.
Ajax had a turbulent week in the run-up to the away match against Excelsior. Midweek there was a disappointing draw against FC Volendam (1-1), as a result of which Alfred Schreuder was fired. His replacement today was John Heitinga, the trainer of Jong Ajax.
Heitinga saw that Ajax started the match sloppily. The first big chance was for the Kralingers, but Redouan el Yaakoubi shot over from close range. After a foul by Sven Nieuwpoort on Davy Klaassen, Ajax received a penalty in the fourteenth minute. The penalty kick was used by Dusan Tadic: 0-1.
Rulli keeps Ajax going
Remarkably enough, Excelsior then had the best chances. Couhaib Driouech, for example, shot full on the post and moments later Geronimo Rulli was sharp with a shot. Marouan Azarkan also found Rulli on his way, but the Argentinian was unable to reverse a clever header from El Yaakoubi: 1-1. Completely out of nowhere, Ajax took the lead again before the break. Tadic lost to Klaassen and he hit hard: 1-2.
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The first danger of the second half came through Maxime Awoudja. He headed towards the Ajax goal, but Rulli turned out to be a spoilsport again. Mohammed Kudus extended the lead with a dry bang: 1-3. Tadic was, just like with the 1-2, the declarant. Kudus was favored in the base over Brian Brobbey and it paid off.
The game then had few chances. Steven Bergwijn shot from a distance, but without success. The game was closed in the final phase by Devyne Rensch. The right back shot beautifully into the goal: 1-4.
Due to the first competition victory since October, Ajax rises to fourth place in the ranking with one point less than PSV. Next Sunday, SC Cambuur is the next opponent.
Setup Ajax: Rulli; Rensch, Álvarez, Timber, Wijndal; Taylor, Berghuis (Bassey/79), Klaassen (Conceicao/63); Tadic, Kudus, Bergwijn