Ajax ended 2019 with a comfortable 6-1 victory over ADO Den Haag in the Johan Cruijff ArenA.
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For the last Eredivisie clash before the winter break, Erik ten Hag decided to start with Jurgen Ekkelenkamp, Ryan Gravenberch and Lassina Traoré. All three making their first starts in the Eredivisie.
After 15 minutes it was 1-0 for the hosts with Hakim Ziyech curling a fantastic strike into the top corner. Eight minutes later, the midfielder set up Donny van de Beek to make it 2-0 with a volley.
Nicolas Tagliafico then crossed for Jurgen Ekkelenkamp to make it 3-0 before Gravenberch capped an excellent first half with a low strike to add a fourth.
Ten Hag replaced Ziyech with Noa Lang at the break but it didn’t slow Ajax down and they were 5-0 up in the 48th minute through Dusan Tadic.
Traore then added the sixth with a header in the 63rd minute, which proved to be Ajax’s final goal of 2019.
Sontje Hansen then made his Eredivisie debut from the bench before Danny Bakker was sent off for ADO with ten minutes left. The visitors did pull one back in stoppage time thanks to a John Goossens penalty after Lisandro Martinez fouled Crysencio Summerville.
Ajax head into the winter break top of the Eredivisie and three points clear of AZ Alkmaar. ADO remains 17th.
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Was a really good performance today. Players introduced added lot of skill, energy and tempo. Thought Ryan Gravenberch was superb, terrific at moving ball quickly from defence to attack. One disappointment, the yellow cards.
Seasons greetings and much appreciation for your analyses across such a brilliant calendar year. Thanks.
Ten Hag should have counted on Ajax young talents since the start of the season instead of playing with players like Alvarez who does not posses the basic skills of football like passing or receiving the ball , it was a mistake that costed Ajax their CL qualification , but any way the new boys are gains for the Dutch football and football in general.