Ajax remained second in the Eredivisie after being held to a 2-2 draw at home by NEC Nijmegen.

ajax nec shonePSV Eindhoven’s shock 1-1 draw with Heerenveen on Saturday meant Ajax had the chance to return to the top of the table with victory over NEC. However, the hosts began the game sloppily and Anthony Limbombe had a good chance to open the scoring early on, but the winger’s run on goal was stopped smartly by Jasper Cillessen.

Ajax were then gifted the lead on 16 minutes as Navarone Foor gave possession away just outside his own box, and after a scramble in the area Arkaduisz Milik cleverly lifted the ball over a grounded Brad Jones and into the net. The lead was short lived as Foor made up for his error three minutes later with a low strike that wrong footed Cillessen and nestled into the bottom corner.

Early in the second half Christian Santos had a good chance to give NEC the lead, but his acrobatic strike was off target. Straight from the counter attack Ajax were back in front with Younes racing to the byline before his cutback was slid into his own net by Rens van Eijden.

Riechedly Bazoer went close to a third goal on two occasions as Ajax looked to seal the victory, but a swift counter attack on 82 minutes ended with Todd Kane swinging in a cross for Christian Santos to power a header past Cillessen and draw NEC level.

Ajax pushed for a late winner but Jones saved excellently from Viktor Fischer before Davy Klaassen saw a shot blocked.

The draw means Ajax remain one point behind PSV a week before the two sides meet in Eindhoven. NEC drop to eighth.




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