A lovely double from Arkaduisz Milik set Ajax on their way to a comfortable 3-0 win over Excelsior.
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As expected Excelsior sat deep from the beginning as they looked to frustrate the Ajax attack, but the Rotterdam side came the closest to scoring early on with Stanley Elbers sending a low strike inches past the post.
Gradually Ajax tightened their grip on the game and after three good chances went begging for Riechedly Bazoer, Amin Younes and Anwar El Ghazi, Arkaduiz Milik opened the scoring on 41 minutes. The striker raced past a challenge before curling a left footed strike into the top corner from just inside the box.
Ten minutes into the second half Milik doubled Ajax’s lead, racing onto a Younes pass before arrowing a low strike into the bottom corner. The Pole was denied his hat-trick by goalkeeper Tom Muyters, who somehow pushed away Milik’s fierce drive from inside the box.
El Ghazi sent a close range header over the bar, while Muyters denied Bazoer’s clever flick as Ajax continued to push forward. With five minutes left a third goal did come with debutante Robert Muric setting up birthday-boy Klaassen, who tapped in from close range.
Ajax remain one point behind PSV, while Excelsior sit third bottom.