Ajax and NEC share points in tense 1-1 draw at Johan Cruijff Arena

Ajax and NEC played to a 1-1 draw at the Johan Cruijff Arena on Saturday. This result puts both clubs at risk of falling further behind Feyenoord. The Rotterdam-based side in second place will face Telstar at home on Sunday, holding a 2-point advantage over their closest competitors.

NEC showed the fearless play that has defined their season. Under coach Dick Schreuder, the team pressed Ajax high up the pitch, putting the home side under constant pressure.

The visitors also exploited Ajax’s weakness on corners and wide free kicks. Sami Ouaissa seemed to put NEC ahead after a free kick by Kodai Sano, but the video assistant referee flagged Ahmetcan Kaplan offside when he headed the ball to the right winger. The Turkish defender, loaned from Ajax, came close again with a header from a corner, only for Youri Regeer to clear it just before it crossed the line.

Before the break, NEC was the superior side, moving the ball smoothly from player to player. Ajax struggled following a difficult week, compounded by serious knee injuries to Vitezslav Jaros and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Maarten Paes, a native of Nijmegen, guarded the home goal, while Kian Fitz-Jim stepped in for captain Davy Klaassen, who was not fully fit. The nimble midfielder spotted the gaps in NEC’s defense, and Mika Godts capitalized in the 39th minute, taking the ball from Sano and scoring his 13th goal of the season.

NEC drew level in the 57th minute from a corner. Darko Nejasmic saw his first attempt blocked but still found the net while on the ground. Following the equalizer, Ajax refrained from attacking, allowing NEC to keep possession while trying to exploit the spaces left by the visitors, with substitutes Wout Weghorst, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Jorthy Mokio, and Steven Berghuis.

In the closing stages, Godts had two decent chances, but one poor touch ruined a scoring opportunity, and another shot went just wide despite Weghorst being better positioned. Later, goalkeeper Paes stopped Kaplan from finally scoring after several failed attempts from a corner.