The tension in the Eredivisie is completely back again. AZ booked a well-deserved victory for league-leader Ajax (0-2) in the Johan Cruijff ArenA on Sunday and is now equal in points with the team from Amsterdam.
Myron Boadu opened the score in the fourth minute, following an error by Daley Blind. More than fifteen minutes before time, Oussama Idrissi decided the game, after the attacker already saw a goal being rejected.
It is the second win this season from AZ to Ajax. Before the winter break, the reigning champion in Alkmaar already won 1-0. It is also the second defeat in a row for Ajax, after Heracles Almelo was 1-0 too strong last week.
Both teams have 53 points after 24 matches, but the goal balance of the team of coach Erik ten Hag is a lot better. Feyenoord is only six points behind both teams.
There was little to deny from the victory of AZ, which was particularly strong in defense. The team took full advantage of the mistakes at Ajax, where top players such as the returning Hakim Ziyech, Dusan Tadic and Blind performed well below their normal level.
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Ajax was powerless against AZ. (Photo: Pro Shots)
AZ dangerous to switch
The first chance was for Ajax – Tadic almost headed in a shot from Promes – but it was AZ that took the lead at lightning speed. Blind handed the ball to Fredrik Midtsjø, who sent Boadu only to goalkeeper André Onana. The striker pushed the ball in through the inside of the post.
Just like Thursday against Getafe, the team from Amsterdam quickly fell behind. In contrast to then, Ajax was unable to ensure a quick equalizer. AZ gave little away in the back and Ajax played too sloppy to find a hole in that tight defense.
In the changeover it was just to watch out for the Ten Hag team. Onana kept his team in the middle of the first half of the game by keeping Midtsjø from scoring. He did that again in the final phase, now with a bet from Boadu.
In the meantime, Ajax insisted a bit more. AZ was being pushed back more and more, but the fit of Amsterdam lacked sharpness. Goalkeeper Marco Bizot was therefore not tested.
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Hakim Ziyech was disappointed after his substitution. (Photo: Pro Shots)
Idrissi decides to lob with a lob
After the break Ajax went looking a little more emphatically for the 1-1, but came away very well after an hour of playing. Idrissi scored the 0-2, but after the intervention of the VAR a line went through that goal. Boadu had made hands in the run-up to the goal.
Twenty minutes before time Ajax escaped again. Again it was Blind who handed in the ball and it was Boadu who was put only for Onana. The tip of the striker, however, went over the bar.
Via Nicolás Tagliafico, Ajax then had two head chances, of which his first excellent match was followed by Bizot. Shortly thereafter, Idrissi was sent away after a beautiful long pass from Teun Koopmeiners. The attacker then left Onana no chance with a nice lob and thus made it 0-2.
Ten Hag immediately brought Klaas-Jan Huntelaar for the visibly frustrated Ziyech in the hope of forcing something, but there was no question of an Amsterdam final offensive. The people of Amsterdam already suffered the third league defeat since the winter break.
View the results, the stand and the program in the Eredivisie
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