Ajax have cut Feyenoord’s lead at the top of the Eredivisie to three points after a 2-1 win over their rivals in De Klassieker.
- Follow Football-Oranje on Twitter
With Feyenoord six points clear at the top and PSV overtaking them into second on Saturday, the pressure was all on Ajax going into De Klaasieker. Peter Bosz was forced into making changes going into the game as well with David Neres and Justin Kluivert replacing the injured Kasper Dolberg and Amin Younes.
With less than a minute on the clock, Ajax got off to the perfect start with Lasse Schone smashing a free kick into the net off the bar from 30 yards. Feyenoord’s issues then grew with top scorer Nicolai Jorgensen forced off the pitch through injury with less than 10 minutes gone.
The pace of Ajax’s front three caused the Feyenoord back four countless problems in the first half, especially Kluivert who constantly found himself in acres of space on the left wing. Traore nearly made it 2-0 when he burst through the Feyenoord defence before blasting his shot over the bar. Ten minutes before the break, Ajax did double their lead after a lovely team move ended with Hakim Ziyech crossing for Neres to net his first goal in the Eredivisie.
Feyenoord struggled to free themselves from their own half for most of the first half and the closest they came to a goal was a Jens Toornstra free-kick which was punched clear by Andre Onana. The league leaders frustrations got the better of Steven Berghuis who decided to hammer a ball into the Ajax supporters at a corner, which earned the winger a yellow card and a barrage of items thrown from the fans.
Ajax continued to dominate after the break and only several saves from Brad Jones stopped it from becoming a rout. The goalkeeper tipped substitute Abdelhak Nouri’s fierce strike wide before he stopped a close range Davinson Sanchez header. Traore really should have settled the game with 12 minutes left, but once again after racing through on goal the forward couldn’t finish past Jones.
In stoppage time Feyenoord pulled a goal back through Michiel Kramer who rifled a strike past Onana from outside the box. However, it proved to be just a consolation as Ajax saw out the rest of the game.
The win moves Ajax back to second and only three points behind Feyenoord, who must regroup for the home match against Go Ahead Eagles on Wednesday. Ajax face AZ in midweek.
Follow
Follow @Footballoranje_ on Twitter
