Ajax weren’t at their best but they began 2015 with a 2-0 win over Groningen at the Amsterdam Arena.
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Ajax hadn’t lost their opening game of the year since 1999, but they came under pressure from a confident Groningen side at the start and Jarchinio Antonia was presented with a great opportunity early on, but blasted over.
Ricardo Kishna was in great form before the winter break, and the winger seems to have taken his confidence in 2015 as the 20-year-old latched onto Lucas Andersen’s clipped ball after 15 minutes before calmly slotting into the corner to hand Ajax the lead.
The goal lifted the home side and Ajax began to play some lovely football, but Groningen were dangerous on the break and should have been level before the break when Antonia was played through on goal, but the forward could only shoot straight at Jasper Cillessen.
Groningen continued to pressure a nervous looking Ajax in the second half, and Antonia got his third guilt edged chance to score on 74 minutes, but Cillessen again came out on top.
Ajax finally made the three points safe in injury time as Johan Kappelhof diverted the ball into his own net, and they move one point behind leaders PSV. Groningen will be encouraged by their performance while Albert Rusnak and Simon Tibbling look like two great signings.
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