An off-key Ajax slumped to a 2-1 defeat at home to Vitesse Arnhem on Sunday to increase the pressure on new boss Marcel Keizer. 

The visitors headed back to Amsterdam looking to bounce back from their embarrassing cup exit to AVV Swift in midweek, while Ajax also had something to prove after their draw at ADO Den Haag last week.

The hosts struggled for momentum from the start with ex-Ajax man Thulani Serero pulling the strings for Vitesse in the middle of the park. In the 21st minute it didn’t come as a surprise that Vitesse took the lead when Guram Kashia headed a free kick past Andre Onana.

Marcel Keizer reacted by bringing on Kasper Dolberg for the injured Matthijs de Ligt as Ajax switched to three at the back. The change didn’t help and after Hakim Ziyech lost the ball in first half injury time, Serero started a move which ended with Milot Rashica firing in Vitesse’s second goal.

Ajax looked for a way back into the game in the second half and chances fell to Dolberg and Ziyech without success, while Huntelaar struck the post. Vitesse defended well but eventually they did concede with Nick Viergever nodding in Ziyech’s cross with seven minutes left.

An equaliser could not be found for the home side, who record their second loss of the season. They now sit seventh in the table, while Vitesse rise to third.




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