Dominant Ajax cruise past Willem II

Ajax were dominant throughout the first half, although they struggled for more than half an hour to break down Willem II's defensive wall. At the other end, Maarten Paes was called into action once, producing a fine save from a close-range effort by Devin Haen.

It was Davy Klaassen who eventually broke the deadlock once again. After excellent work from Kasper Dolberg, who cut the ball back into his path, the midfielder opened the scoring. Before the interval, Julian Brandt doubled the lead with a superb strike: 2-0.

Ajax continued in the same vein after the break. Míchel Sánchez's side remained in complete control and it felt only a matter of time before the third goal arrived. It eventually came from substitute Viktor Tsygankov, who netted his first goal for Ajax.

Player of the Match
The score became 4-0 through the impressive Oscar Gloukh. Ajax's number ten was later named Ajax Player of the Match. Willem II pulled one back through Alessandro Cirrani, but the final word belonged to Kasper Dolberg, who headed home Ajax's fifth goal of the evening.

Ajax return to action on Saturday, when Excelsior visit the Johan Cruijff ArenA.

Ajax - Willem II 5-1 (2-0)
41. Klaasen 1-0
45. Brandt 2-0
69. Tsygankov 3-0
74. Gloukh 4-0
76. Cirrani 4-1
87. Dolberg 5-1

Ajax: Paes; Rosa, Kehrer (77. Janse), Baas, Wijndal (67. Henrique), Klaassen (57. Amrabat), Mokio, Brandt (67. Ouazane), Berghuis (57. Tsygankov), Dolberg, Gloukh