Ajax have reached the quarter-finals of the KNVB Cup after a 1-0 victory over AZ Alkmaar.

Erik ten Hag made eight changes to the side that defeated Feyenoord at the weekend with Maarten Stekelenburg making his first appearance since rejoining the club. Devyne Rensch, Lisandro Martinez, Edson Alvarez, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp, Zakaria Labyad, and David Neres also started.

For AZ, Pascal Jansen brought Jordy Clasie into the side at right-back, while Zakaria Aboukhlal replaced Jesper Karlsson.

Quincy Promes hit the post in the 10th minute, before Myron Boadu tested Stekelenburg at the other end. Both sides traded moments until Ajax took the lead in the 34th minute.

Bizot kept out Promes and Ekkelenkamp but could do nothing when Labyad placed the ball high into the net. AZ appealed for offside against Neres, but there was no VAR to rule the goal out.

Both sides were evenly matched after the break with Alvarez and Ryan Gravenberch both hitting the woodwork for Ajax, while Boadu had a goal disallowed for a handball in the build-up.

Labyad’s goal proved to be the only one of the game and Ajax will take their place in the last eight of the cup. AZ must now concentrate on climbing the league table.




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