The match started with a minute's applause for Bennie Muller at their home stadium, the Johan Cruyff ArenA. The club icon died last week at the age of 85. After the touching tribute, Ajax got right off the starting blocks. Brian Brobbey put the home team into the lead within ten minutes.
Sadly the equaliser came soon after. Michel Kamer came out of nowhere to make it 1-1. This did not unsettle Ajax, who started prowling for the 2-1. The team occasionally outpaced themselves by giving away too much space. But they conceded no more goals following that equaliser.
In fact, their efforts paid off: after some great action from Brobbey, the Ajax striker put his team back in the lead. In the second half the Ajax players put themselves further ahead. After just over an hour's play, Kristian Hlynsson made it 3-1 to Ajax. Steven Berghuis played the final chord. The seasoned Ajax player tidied away a curve shot to make it 4-1.
New Ajax signing Jordan Henderson watched their three-point victory. The crowd sang out with passion when the Englishman appeared on the big screens at the Johan Cruyff ArenA.
The three points mean Ajax close in on AZ and FC Twente. FC Twente lost against NEC earlier this weekend. AZ ended their match against PC Zwolle earlier this weekend in a draw.
Ajax - RKC 4-1 (2-1)
09. Brobbey 1-0
15. Kramer 1-1
35. Brobbey 2-1
64. Hlynsson 3-1
87. Berghuis 4-1
*70. Brobbey misses penalty
Ajax: Ramaj; Gooijer (52. Gaaei), Rensch, Hato, Martha, Hlynsson (79. Forbs), Tahirović, Taylor, Berghuis, Brobbey (82. Banel), Bergwijn
