Uninspired Ajax beat PEC Zwolle 0-1 due to penalty scored by Kenneth Taylor
Ajax maintained their eight-point lead over their nearest challengers PSV in the Eredivisie on Sunday with a win away to PEC Zwolle. A penalty from Kenneth Taylor gave Ajax the win in what was a severely unconvincing performance from the league leaders.
The Amsterdammers were missing Davy Klaassen for the game. The 32-year-old’s wife is set to give birth, and he was, therefore, given permission to miss the game to be present for the birth of his child.
Most of the first half was in line with the rest of Ajax’s league matches this season under Francesco Farioli, with minimal goalmouth action on both sides of the pitch.
Ajax was dealt a blow in the 15th minute when Brian Brobbey was forced off with an injury. This was even more of an issue as Ajax’s other striker, Wout Weghorst, is also sidelined with an injury. Bertrand Traore, who usually plays as a winger, came on to play in the striker position.
The game came to life just before halftime. Matheus made a good save to stop a potential own goal after Ryan Thomas’s cross was deflected toward goal, almost giving PEC the lead.
Ajax’s biggest chance of the first half came seconds before halftime. Steven Berghuis played a clever pass to Kian Fitz-Jim, and his chipped finish was well-stopped by Jeroen Schendelaar.
The game’s only goal came in the 59th minute. Kenneth Taylor’s shot hit the arm of PEC defender Anselmo Garcia MacNulty resulting in Referee Bas Nijhuis giving the away team a penalty. Taylor also took the penalty and converted it.
Ajax almost doubled their lead on a few occasions during the latter stages of the match. Schendelaar made a great save to stop Berghuis’ curler from finding the net, and Oliver Edvardsen’s effort went just wide of the post.
PEC’s chance to get the equalizer came in injury time. Thomas Buitink found himself one-on-one with Matheus in the box, but his lob was too hard as the crowd in the MAC³PARK Stadium covered their faces as it hit the top of the goal.
Brobbey’s injury will be seen as a considerable setback when it comes to Ajax’s second leg away to Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday in the UEFA Europa League. The Amsterdammers currently trail 2-1.
