It was very difficult, but Ajax defeated NEC in the Johan Cruijff Arena. A single goal from Mohammed Kudus was enough: 1-0. As a result, the team from Amsterdam remains in the footsteps of leader Feyenoord.
Calvin Bassey got confidence in the defense at Ajax from trainer John Heitinga. As a result, Edson Álvarez moved to midfield and Kenneth Taylor was on the bench. In the opening phase, Steven Berghuis was the most dangerous man at Ajax. He first deposited the ball on the crossbar from a distance and moments later shot full at Jasper Cillessen. Steven Bergwijn and Jurrien Timber became dangerous before the break, but Cillessen remained a spoilsport.
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Immediately in the second half it was Mohammed Kudus who opened the score. He worked a cross from Dusan Tadic behind Cillessen: 1-0. The Ghanaian right winger should have made it 2-0 moments later. He was free at the far post after Davy Klaassen’s header, but Kudus’ header went over.
In the remaining part of the game, only Anthony Musaba had a chance to shoot. His effort missed direction and went wide of the Ajax goal. It therefore remained 1-0 in Amsterdam. Thanks to the hard-fought three-pointer, Ajax takes second place from AZ again. SC Heerenveen is the next opponent of the team from Amsterdam in the premier league. That game is next Sunday.
Setup Ajax: Rulli; Rensch, Timber, Bassey, Wijndal; Berghuis (Taylor/67), Álvarez, Klaassen (Grillitsch/92); Kudus (Conceicao/94), Tadic, Bergwijn (Brobbey/67)