A day after PSV took their title, Ajax put in another lifeless performance as they were held to a 0-0 draw by NAC Breda.
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Ajax have looked a shadow of the team which won four Eredivisie titles on the bounce this season, and PSV Eindhoven deservedly ended their stranglehold on the division when they beat Heerenveen on Saturday. With Feyenoord slipping up against Go Ahead Eagles earlier on Sunday, Ajax knew a win over relegation threatened NAC Breda would at least see them seal second place, which puts them in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League.
However the first half in the Amsterdam Arena was more evidence of Ajax’s struggles this season, with the home side enjoying a lot of possession without ever troubling the NAC goalkeeper Jelle ten Rouwelaar.
In the second half the game finally saw some action with Daley Sinkgraven striking the bar with a well taken free kick, while at the other end Mats Seuntjens somehow fired wide from a few yards out with the goal gaping.
Viktor Fischer made his re-entry to the Ajax side after fourteen months out, and the winger added some urgency to the attack, but could not help find a breakthrough. Ten Rouwelaar proved too be the difference as the goalkeeper made excellent saves from Anwar El Ghazi and Lucas Andersen to keep the score at 0-0. NAC were reduced to ten men in injury time after Gill Swerts was shown a straight red card for a lunge on Thulani Serero, but Ajax failed to capitalise with an extra man.
Ajax are now nine points clear of third placed Feyenoord with three games to go, and although Champions League qualification isn’t in doubt, Frank de Boer has a big job this summer in trying to turn his side back into the Eredivisie’s main force. NAC Breda are now three points from safety in 16th place.
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