Sparta home would be a walk-over for Ajax beforehand, but nothing could be further from the truth. In the Johan Cruijff Arena, the Rotterdam team deservedly took the lead after a mistake by goalkeeper Andre Onana. After the break, Ajax ran over the low flyer thanks to goals from Davy Klaassen and Dusan Tadic: 2-1.
Prior to the match, Ajax players wore a special shirt to encourage Louis van Gaal. A heavily modified Ajax then kicked off the game against Sparta Rotterdam. Noussair Mazraoui, Lisandro Martinez, Jurriën Timber and Antony were missing from the team of trainer Erik ten Hag. As a result, Nico Tagliafico started as left back, but his starting position was shattered by an injury. As a result, the Argentinian had to leave the field for Kenneth Taylor after half an hour.
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It was striking that Sparta was by far the most dangerous in the Arena. The visitors fell far back in their own half and defended excellently. Via Mario Engels, the team from Rotterdam already fired a warning shot and after just over half an hour, Sparta even took the lead. Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana took an inaccurate goal kick, after which Sparta captured the ball and Amsterdammer Joeri de Kamps shot the ball hard beyond the reach of the Onana: 0-1.
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Again Ajax fell behind. That happened to the team from Amsterdam in the last three games (Benfica, Feyenoord and FC Groningen). Towards halftime Ajax did push a bit, but did not embarrass Sparta. A whistle concert from the stands then led the team to the dressing room. Where it lacked decisiveness before the break, Ajax was immediately after the break. Dusan Tadic served Davy Klaassen with a low withdrawn cross, after which the midfielder signed for the 1-1 in the 49th minute.
Opportunities for more
Ajax had Sparta by the throat and was then hastily looking for the lead. In the 62nd minute, Dusan Tadic was suddenly allowed to score a penalty. Adil Auassar made hands after a free kick hit his hand. Tadic knew what to do with that opportunity and shot the team from Amsterdam to 2-1. Ajax still had chances to run further. Sébastien Haller scored nicely after a splitting pass from Daley Blind, but was offside and Klaassen headed the post via Sparta defender Abels.
Thanks to the victory, Ajax can calmly look at what competitor PSV will do tomorrow. The team from Amsterdam now has 72 points from 29 games. That is seven more than the people of Eindhoven, who will play against RKC Waalwijk tomorrow. Next Sunday, Ajax and PSV will face each other in De Kuip in the battle for the KNVB Cup.
Ajax setup: onana; Timber, Schuurs, Blind, Tagliafico (Taylor/30); Alvarez, Klaassen (Kudus/89), Gravenberch; Berghuis, Haller (Brobbey/80), Tadic