On Saturday evening, Ajax easily defeated VVV-Venlo by 1-4. In a wooden first half, Hakim Ziyech scored the opening goal. The other goals were scored by Dusan Tadic (penalty kick), Klaas Jan Huntelaar and David Neres. Mexican player Edson Álvarez made his debut.
Squad debut Promes & Dest
After the important 3-2 win against PAOK, Ajax played in De Koel with three changes to the squad. Coach Erik ten Hag went with Perr Schuurs and Quincy Promes in his squad, instead of Joel Veltman and David Neres. Noussair Mazraoui was absent due to an injury, which meant that Sergino Dest was at kick off.
Promes and Dest were making their Eredivisie debut.
The game’s outline was immediately clear in the first half. All 11 players from the Limburg team stayed back in their own half, which Ajax went hunting for the opening goal. After seven minutes, Perr Schuurs took the first shot. His long distance attempt ended in the hands of VVV keeper Thorsten Kirschbaum.
Despite these threats, the Ajacieds remained largely harmless. It wasn’t until the 28th minute, when a beautiful pass by Ziyech resulted in the game’s first real opportunity. Promes, on the receiving end, was unable to extend the ball successfully. Ten minutes later, the debut-making player was forced to relinquish his starting spot, as he left the field with an injury. Neres was his substitute.
Ziyech opens the score
In the tough first half, there were very few opportunities. Shortly before the break, VVV was threatening, but in the counter attach, Ziyech scored the 0-1 with a precisely placed shot.
Quick 0-2
After three minutes of play in the second half, the ball was placed on the spot after hands by Roel Janssen. Who else but Tadic took the shot; the Serb scored coolly, 0-2.
With this, Ajax’s captain and number 10 was able to grab another record. The Serb has scored in his sixth straight Eredivisie game. Arek Milik was the last Ajacied to achieve this.
Ajax opens it up
The always hungry Huntelaar was only on the field for 8 minutes when he easily scored 0-3 on a pass from Nico Tagliafico. A bit later, substitute Neres made his mark with a goal into the far corner, 0-4.
For Edson Álvarez, it was an extra special evening. In the 74th minute, he made his debut for Ajax.
In the 89th minute, Evert Linthorst scored a goal for the Limburg team. The final score of 1-4 was reached. On Tuesday, Ajax meets APOEL in the Champions League playoffs, at 21:00.
Scoreverloop VVV Venlo – Ajax 1-4 (0-1). 44. Ziyech 0-1, 48. Tadic 0-2 (strafschop), 66. Huntelaar 0-3, 77. Neres 0-4, 89. Linthorst 1-4.
Opstelling Ajax: Onana; Tagliafico, Martinez (74. Álvarez), Schuurs, Dest; Marin, Van de Beek, Blind; Ziyech (59. Huntelaar), Tadic, Promes (39. Neres)