Ajax are now top of the Eredivisie after a 4-1 victory over Heerenveen in the Johan Cruijff ArenA.
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With one eye on the Champions League clash with Lille on Tuesday, Erik ten Hag made some changes to his starting line-up. Perr Schuurs and Klaas Jan Huntelaar came into the eleven for Sergino Dest and David Neres, while Quincy Promes was also handed a start.
Ajax began sloppily with Heerenveen going close with Mitchell van Bergen testing Andre Onana. However, in the 14th minute, Ajax took the lead with Dusan Tadic divering Huntelaar’s free-kick past Warner Hahn.
The lead only lasted eight minutes before Jens Odgaard tapped in Heerenveen’s equaliser from close range after a fine cross by Van Bergen. Heerenveen then thought they had taken the lead when Odgaard netted again but this time VAR ruled it out for a foul on Joel Veltman in the build-up.
Ajax survived the scare and in first-half stoppage time, Nicolas Tagliafico headed in a corner to give them the lead.
Seven minutes into the second half, Tadic clipped the ball to the back-post were a waiting Perr Schuurs was on hand to tap in a third for the home side. Tagliafico then scored his second six minutes later with an acrobatic finish from a Hakim Ziyech cross.
Ajax calmly saw out the rest of the match with Siem de Jong making his first appearance of the season from the bench. Another substitute, David Neres, also hit the post before the end.
Ajax go above Vitesse into top spot and can now prepare for Tuesday’s clash at home to Lille. Heerenveen are 12th.
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