Ajax have cut the gap on PSV to five points after a 1-0 victory over PEC Zwolle.
- Follow Football-Oranje on Twitter
PSV Eindhoven’s draw at home to Heerenveen on Saturday gave Ajax an opportunity to cut the gap at the top to five points if they could take a victory away from PEC Zwolle.
As expected, Ajax dominated the opening stages but Justin Kluivert curled a strike wide before David Neres passed up a good opportunity after being set up by Hakim Ziyech. Just before the half-hour mark, Kluivert got another great chance but he couldn’t beat Diederik Boer when one-on-one with the goalkeeper. At the other end, Mustafa Saymak got PEC Zwolle’s first big chance but he headed over the bar.
The chances came thick and fast for Ajax just before the break but Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Donny van de Beek and Neres all couldn’t find the net with headers while Kluivert was off target with a low strike.
Erik ten Hag decided to make a change at the break with Carel Eiting coming on for Lasse Schone. Three minutes into the second half, Ajax got the best chance of the game when Van de Beek was played in on goal but the midfielder’s shot came off the post and from the rebound, Neres blazed over.
Finally on 54 minutes, Huntelaar broke the deadlock, receiving a pass from Neres in the box before slipping a low strike past Boer to give Ajax the lead. Kluivert nearly doubled the lead soon afterwards but his stunning strike from distance crashed off the bar.
Ajax’s failed to kill the game off but restricted PEC to only one chance before the end which Queensy Menig couldn’t take.
The win means Ajax take advantage of PSV’s slip and are five points behind in second.
Follow
Follow @Footballoranje_ on Twitter
