Twente beat Ajax in Amsterdam to climb above them in table
Ajax’s poor season took another disappointing turn on Saturday evening as the Amsterdammers lost 2-1 at home to FC Twente. The defeat means that Twente climbed above Ajax in the table, who now have a five-point gap to second place, with Feyenoord playing tomorrow.
It was a contrast of managerial effects. Twente is playing with significantly more confidence since the appointment of John van den Brom this season, inflicting the first defeat of Oscar Garcia, who has failed to impress thus far in his three games in charge. Ajax currently has 25 fewer points than at this stage last season.
Ajax manager Oscar Garcia picked Oliver Edvardsen to start in the right winger position. The Norwegian has often been criticized while playing for Ajax, but was given the nod over Oscar Gloukh.
Twente had the first chance of the game early on. Sondre Ørjasæter played a cross into the box, which found striker Sam Lammers, but his shot was straight at Maarten Paes.
Garcia’s side made a poor start to the game, and it was punished in the 19th minute. Former Feyenoord midfielder Ramiz Zerrouki hit a shot from around 25 meters into the near corner.
Ajax equalized against the run of play in the 32nd minute. A good through ball by Steven Berghuis found Mika Godts, and his pass across the box was side-footed into the goal with aplomb by Wout Weghorst. It was his first goal since October, which also came against FC Twente.
Twente failed to profit from a huge error from the Ajax defence midway through the second half. A risky pass by Paes was then lost by Josip Sutalo. Zerrouki picked it up, ran forward before cutting inside with Paes on the ground, played it to Lammers, whose effort was blocked before Daan Rots saw his effort blocked by Youri Baas, stopping a certain goal.
Lammers came close to scoring later on when a deft little through ball by Rots found Bart van Rooij, and his low cross found the striker, but the effort went wide via the side netting.
Twente got the winning goal in the 79th minute. A long ball was chested down by Lammers to Van Rooij, who had the whole half to run into. The captain then cut inside and hit a shot with his weaker foot into the far corner.
Feyenoord face relegation battlers FC Volendam tomorrow. A victory would increase the gap to eight points. A seemingly impossible margin for the Amsterdammers. They would also have to catch NEC, who are now five points ahead, and Twente, who are now two points ahead of the Amsterdammers.
