Wout Weghorst scores late goal in Ajax win; PSV victorious despite red card
Wout Weghorst came off the bench to score a vital 91st-minute goal in Ajax's 3-1 home victory over FC Groningen. The match was 1-1 when Weghorst came on due to goals from Davy Klaassen and Jorg Schreuders. Chuba Akpom closed the scoring in the 94th minute.
Ajax had their first moment of danger in the 13th minute when they hit the post. Kenneth Taylor's shot was deflected before hitting the outside of the post and going out for a corner.
The first goal of the match came in the 20th minute. Branco van den Boomen played the pass into Brian Brobbey, who used his strong physique to hold off the defender. Davy Klaassen took advantage of this by scoring from close range.
Ajax was dominating in the Johan Cruijff ArenA, but the second goal just would not come, and it was punished in the 69th minute when the visitors equalized. A long ball from goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen led to a mistake by Josip Sutalo, which allowed Jorg Schreuders to score from close range, which he did successfully.
The home side were awarded a penalty in the 70th, but even that chance was left unconverted. Thijmen Blokzijl was penalized for taking down Chuba Akpom. Van den Boomen, who had also scored a penalty against Slavia Prague in midweek, struck the penalty well, but Vaessen saved the effort.
Many Ajax fans who had already left the ground while the score was 1-1 missed the combination of two of manager Francesco Farioli's substitutes, which resulted in a dramatic second goal for the team. Anton Gaaei put in a terrific cross for Weghorst, who headed it home to spark huge celebrations from the crowd.
Weghorst's cameo was capped off with an assist for the third goal. The 32-year-old striker won a duel in the middle of the pitch before threading through a perfect pass to Akpom, who slotted home the chance.
Ajax are currently fifth, with two games in hand on three of the teams above them. They are ahead of rivals Feyenoord on goal difference and a point behind FC Twente.
FC Groningen is faltering after an impressive start. The newly promoted team has lost its last three games, putting it in 11th place.
League leaders PSV were made to work for their victory against Sparta Rotterdam on Saturday. Peter Bosz's team had to play 40 minutes with ten men after Matteo Dams was sent off.
Sparta took the lead in the tenth minute. A counter attack was finished by Tobias Lauritsen after a pass from Arno Verschueren.
PSV created two clear-cut chances after the first goal through Malik Tillman and Guus Til, and yet it was a fluke goal that gave them the equalizer. A long-distance shot from center-back Olivier Boscagli was deflected into the net to put the Eindhovenaren level. The goal went down as Verschueren's own goal.
It was a double salvo for the reigning champions as their captain, Luuk de Jong, scored three minutes later to give them the lead. The experienced striker used the outside of his foot to direct the ball towards the top corner.
Young left-back Matteo Dams was sent off in the 49th minute. Camiel Neghli had gotten away from Dams and was about to run toward the goal unopposed before Dams deliberately pulled him down, which is a red card offense.
A huge missed opportunity from Shinsuke Mito in the last minute aided PSV in their victory. The team has won all its games thus far and has a five-point lead over second-placed FC Utrecht.
It was a good weekend for FC Utrecht. The team is second in the league after a win against RKC Waalwijk in which Ron Jans's team struggled in a 3-2 win against the ten-man Waalwijk side, who are currently bottom of the lead.
Although their performance was not convincing, FC Twente and AZ's losses ensured that the Utrechters had a successful weekend.
