Ajax kept up the pressure on leaders PSV Eindhoven as a Kolbeinn Sigthorsson hat-trick helped them to a 5-2 win over NAC Breda to climb joint top.
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After a 15 minute delay to kick off due to Ajax arriving late at the stadium, NAC Breda began the match on top with Erik Falkenburg testing Jasper Cillessen from long range while Adnane Tighadouini fired a free kick over the bar. However Ajax took the lead on 27 minutes when Ricardo van Rhijn’s long range effort was avoided by Davy Klaassen and caught goalkeeper Jelle ten Rouwelaar off guard before nestling into the net.
The goal rocked the home side and they fell apart, leaving Kolbeinn Sigthorsson unmarked to side-foot home Nicolai Boilesen’s cross into the net to make it 2-0 two minutes later. The Icelandic striker then raced onto a through ball from Davy Klaassen before beating Ten Rouwelaar at his near post for Ajax’s third goal before the break.
Ten minutes into the second half Sigthorsson was given the chance to complete his hat-trick as Ajax were awarded a penalty for a foul on Lucas Andersen. However Sigthorsson missed the spot-kick.
Stipe Perica headed in Matic’s free kick to pull a goal back for NAC Breda with 30 minutes left, but Joel Veltman fired Klassen’s corner past Ten Rouwelaar to restore Ajax’s two goal lead. Perica netted his second of the game with a powerful finish before Sigthorsson finally completed his hat-trick with a minute to go to seal Ajax’s win.
The win puts Ajax joint top on 15 points while NAC Breda remain 12th.
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