Ajax see out comfortable victory over Heerenveen

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The state

“Ajax register seven Eredivisie wins in a row.” Is there really a need to highlight this if this becomes a routine every season?

The de Godenzonen grow from strength to strength. Mohammed Kudus continued to add to his reputation. John Heitinga’s outfit continue to look better in team-play and transitions.

The game

This game marked a bump in sustained pressure. The end result never looked a doubt after Heerenveen conceded three goals by the 20th minute.

Mohammed Kudus opened up the scorebooks with his 18th Eredivisie goal of the season in the 10th minute. A precision finish from right flank just inside the penalty area makes Kudus add to his tally of 18 goals from 35 games in all competitions.

Edson Alvarez produced the 2nd goal without mercy. Also his 2nd Eredivisie goal of the season. After moments of pin ball in Heerenveen’s penalty area, the ball landed to Edson’s feet. The rest was taken care of with a long range bullet probably cutting grass and air along the way, reaching the bottom left corner.

Steven Bergwijn and Dusan Tadic tag-teamed for the third and caught Heerenveen on the backfoot with a well-worked counter attack with the former placing it past the keeper. It was only 20 mins.

Bergwijn didn’t stop his rampage from there. In the 29th minute, he cut through three defenders on a solo-run before kissing the post with the ball. Heerenveen were ‘heeren-done’. 

Desperate times were aloof with Heerenveen making three changes in the 37th minute so early.

Ajax gave away a really silly goal in the 42nd. A cross managed to find the head of Pelle Van Amersfoort who made a run in-behind completely un-marked.  They let him go for something akin to a typical Sunday morning walk to the park past the back line.

Kenneth Taylor calmed any tiny bit of nerves jangling around with a cool finish outside the box for the fourth goal.

After half time, another hiccup had brewed thanks to a good bit of hold up play from van Amersfoort inside the penalty area. He held the ball up for left back van Ewijk to make a marauding inside run into the box before the shot being blocked by the keeper.

However, the result never looked truly in doubt.

Sydney Van Hooijdonk added the 2nd goal for Heerenveen with a pin-point header from a cross homing in. Again, no physicality shown by Ajax back line in crucial moments.

The real test

It was the dress-rehearsal and match result everyone saw coming for the real test on Sunday when Ajax take on Feyenoord at home.

At times, the physicality in the back line goes astray. Ajax are among very few elite teams in Europe who only play once a week due to no European midweek ties. Excellent rest is crucial to securing the title.

The stage is set for de Godenzonen to close the gap of three points for first place. There are still nine match-days left in the Eredivisie.

Forget the outgoing players, managers and directors. Forget the list of calamities. Ajax can make everyone forget that this Sunday.