draw and paltry point in Deventer
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Watch the summary of Go Ahead Eagles – Ajax
After losing the Klassieker two weeks ago, Ajax suffered another blow in the Eredivisie. On a visit to Go Ahead Eagles it stuck at a 0-0 draw.
Leaders Feyenoord won later in the day at Sparta Rotterdam (1-3) to increase the gap with Ajax to eight points. The championship gets further out of sight for Ajax, but second place (equal with PSV) and thus a place in the preliminaries of the Champions League is now even at stake for the Amsterdammers.
Tricky remaining program Ajax
With seven games to go, the difference between the leaders and number two Ajax and number three PSV is eight points. Ajax and PSV still meet and AZ, where Feyenoord’s toughest opponent on paper is FC Utrecht.
Ajax and Feyenoord play each other next week in the semifinals of the cup tournament. The Rotterdammers are also still active in the Europa League, while Ajax and PSV are already out of European football.
Ajax coach John Heitinga surprised with a starting place for left back Youri Baas, who started for the first time with the Amsterdammers in the premier league. That was at the expense, among others, of Owen Wijndal, who Heitinga has not yet sufficiently convinced, the coach indicated beforehand.
Striker Brian Brobbey also got his chance in the starting lineup, moving Dusan Tadic back to the left side. Mohammed Kudus completed the attack, as Steven Bergwijn was deemed not fit enough to play an entire game.
Ajax had the first opportunity in the opening stages, but Davy Klaassen saw his effort go wide of the goal via Jay Idzes. Go Ahead, unbeaten for three games against the Amsterdammers since promotion in 2021, could have opened the scoring after 15 minutes.
Ball loss by Ajax in midfield seemed to be punished on the switch by Finn Stokkers, who was served by attacking partner Isac Lidberg. Goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli prevented a goal and saw Philippe Rommens’ rebound go wide.
Brobbey then made his presence felt. First he popped over via goalkeeper Jeffrey de Lange with his left. A few minutes later De Lange was again the winner on an attempt by Brobbey on the turn.
Rejected goal Ajax
Ajax seemed to take the lead after more than half an hour. Kudus headed goal on Steven Berghuis’ cross, but the flag went up for offside. It looked like millimeter work, and after a check by VAR, which could not draw a clear offside line, the referee’s decision stood.
Watch Dusan Tadic and John Heitinga’s views on Kudus’ disallowed goal below.
Go Ahead then made themselves heard again, failing to play out a 2-on-1 situation on a breakaway just before halftime. Bobby Adekanye forgot to put Stokkers in position, after which Edson Álvarez was able to defuse the Deventer attack.
Heitinga not satisfied
Even after the break Ajax had more ball possession, but there was hardly a clear difference in level. Heitinga could not possibly be satisfied with his team’s performance and brought on Wijndal and Bergwijn for Baas and Brobbey midway through the second half.
Shortly after, Go Ahead goalkeeper De Lange had to come into action on a Klaassen effort. Ajax then tried to squeeze out a final offensive. However, Deventen, with substitute Bas Kuipers returning from injury, held on fairly easily, so Ajax is now level on points with PSV in the league table.
