Ajax have temporarily returned to the summit after a hard fought 2-1 win over Groningen in the Euroborg.
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Groningen went into the game on the back of two straight wins and they looked full of confidence in a first half which they created the better chances. Oussama Idrissi caused the Ajax defence several problems after coming on for the injured Bryan Linssen, but the winger dragged a good chance wide, while Jesper Drost fired a close range shot over and Alexander Sorloth was also off target with a strike just before half time.
Ajax’s coaching staff, minus the ill Frank de Boer, clearly had words with their players at half time as they came out the blocks quickly in the second half and they eventually opened the scoring when Anwar El Ghazi blasted the ball in from close range on 59 minutes. Ten minutes later Amin Younes was brought down in the box and Lasse Schone made no mistake from the penalty spot to make it 2-0.
Ajax seemed on course for a comfortable last twenty minutes, but they were reduced to ten men with Mike van der Hoorn shown his second yellow card. In the second minute of injury time Danny Hoesen fired a free kick into the top corner to reduce the deficit, but it proved too little, too late and Ajax held on.
Ajax move above PSV, who face NEC later on Sunday while Groningen remain 9th.
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