With a difficult victory over PEC Zwolle, Ajax has taken back fifth place in the Eredivisie from NEC. In the MAC3PARK Stadium, John van ‘t Schip’s team won 1-3.
The visitors took the lead after twelve minutes. After a failed offside trap by PEC Zwolle, Kristian Hlynsson did not fail and the Icelander scored his seventh of the season. Seven minutes later, Eliano Reijnders scored the equalizer. Devyne Rensch slipped near the halfway line, leaving Reijnders alone to run towards Ajax keeper Diant Ramaj, but Rensch corrected his mistake in time. After 24 minutes, Chuba Akpom doubled the score by finishing off a through ball from Mika Godts.
PEC tried to give something back and also had opportunities from distance through Davy van den Berg and Thomas Lam. In injury time of the first half, Bram van Polen had the biggest chance. After a corner, the captain was released for Ramaj, but the veteran shot over. In a conservative second half, the first big chance for PEC Zwolle – in the 73rd minute – resulted in an immediate goal. Filip Krastev, who came on five minutes earlier, soloed through the Amsterdam defense and scored via Ramaj.
PEC continued to chase the equalizer and saw goals from Silvester van der Water and Bram van Polen disallowed, but five minutes before the end the decision was made at the other end. After a beautiful pass from Benjamin Tahirovic, Anton Gaaei broke through on the right and passed to Akpom, who shot in his second from close range. The English striker was injured during that action and was immediately taken to the side. Later, trainer Van ‘t Schip announced that it was probably not an injury. “I think it’s just a cramp.”
With the victory, Ajax is fifth again with 44 points. For PEC Zwolle it is the sixth game in a row without a win. Johnny Jansen’s team is 13th.
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