Ajax was ready for a success, after four league matches in a row without a win. The club also remained without a goal. That last happened on September 10 last year against sc Heerenveen (5-0). The win provides little guidance for Saturday’s competition match with FC Twente. Den Bosch offered too little resistance for that and the visitors missed too many players.
flu virus
At Ajax, more and more players are becoming infected with a flu virus. Mohammed Kudus, Steven Bergwijn and Steven Berghuis were already sick in bed last weekend. Jurriën Timber and Edson Álvarez have withdrawn with the same symptoms. “Perhaps it is due to the World Cup and they therefore have a reduced resistance”, trainer Alfred Schreuder looked for causes.
Erik ten Hag’s successor hopes that one or two more players will return for FC Twente. He therefore thinks he can appeal to Brian Brobbey again. The striker sustained a shoulder injury in the game against NEC on Sunday. He was still missing in De Bosch.
Rain and wind
It rained and the wind blew in the capital of Brabant. The artificial grass was slippery and soaking wet. Trainer Jack de Gier of the number 16 of the Kitchen Champion Division wanted his players to make it a tough match. But the home team had little control of the ball and could not make it a physical wear and tear.
Ajax started with Lorenzo Lucca as striker and 19-year-old Kian Fitz-Jim in midfield. Owen Wijndal got a chance at left back, but couldn’t really convince. The new goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli, who came over from Villarreal, made his debut in stadium De Vliert. The Argentinian had little to do. Ajax was on the ball a lot and took the lead in the 20th minute with a used penalty kick from Dusan Tadic. The captain was allowed to take a penalty after a foul by Dino Halilovic on Kenneth Taylor.
Debut
Wijndal, Bassey and the diligent Francisco Conceição missed opportunities for a second goal. Taylor finally hit the target in the 52nd minute. After that goal, Schreuder decided to bring in Olivier Aertssen, Victor Jensen, Christian Rasmussen and Jorrel Hato. The 18-year-old Aertssen and only 16-year-old Hato made their debut in the main force.
