Ajax remains frontrunner thanks to late equalizer against FC Utrecht

The point remains Ajax trendsetter, though it has as many points as the number two PSV on Saturday won 3-0 at Roda JC. The team of coach Frank de Boer has to go three rounds a better goal difference than Eindhoven.

Tuesday PSV at home against Vitesse. Ajax is a day later visiting sc Lord Yes. Next weekend the two title contenders come because of the KNVB Cup final (Feyenoord FC Utrecht) is not in action.

Rejected goal
In the hunt for the much needed points in the battle for the title Sunday against FC Utrecht Ajax started with only three defenders. Daley Sinkgraven was once the base as an additional force in midfield, but the game of Ajax for rest did not benefit.

Ajax played at a low rate to make it really difficult for visitors. There have been scored but the intikker Amin Younes, after a shot of cracked Klaassen was disallowed because of offside.

The team of De Boer managed to create little further. Because Anwar Al Ghazi that right up front was preferred Lasse Schöne, headed next and Nemanja Gudelj from distance shot, the home team ended the first half down even without a shot on goal.

On the stroke of half time FC Utrecht was given the best chance of the first half. Barazite realized just how much time he had after his marker Sink Counts slipped. The hurried shot Utrecht striker went wide and over.

Loss of possession
Ajax should have been warned by the miss, but ten minutes after half went wrong yet. Dom lost the ball in midfield led an outbreak in Utrecht which ended up on the left by Andreas Ludwig. The German delivered a fine cross off and this time Barazite completed or well off 1-0.

The backlog Ajax seemed to finally wake up. There was fanatically hunted a goal and after an hour was Utrecht goalkeeper Flip Bednarek first tested. The Polish keeper, who replaced the injured Robbin Ruiter, brought salvation to a header of his compatriot Milik.

In the hope of more opportunities brought De Boer young Václav Černý and not much later the Czech winger came close to equalizing. He had his opponent too fast, but his low shot into the goalkeeper went through the post next.

Ten minutes from time made Kenny Tete also his return to Ajax after months of injury woes. By the invasion turn right back Mike van der Hoorn pushed forward as a kind of battering ram to provide additional hazard.

Prompt was six minutes from time at the other end touch and seemed to play the game. Substitute Joosten popped the 2-0 with a hard shot, allowing Ajax seemed to have put the lead from the head.

Klaassen captain, however, took care of that it was exciting to make five minutes before the tying goal.

Ajax could again hope and when referee Danny Makkelie a minute from time gave a cheap penalty after an alleged violation of Utrecht captain Willem Janssen on Milik came still good for Ajax.

Milik claimed the penalty easily given up. The Polish striker left his compatriot Bednarek chance and signed as for the important 2-2 that caused Ajax based on a better goal difference than PSV continues leader.

The draw was the team from De Boer for the fifteenth consecutive unbeaten in the Eredivisie. The last defeat dates back to December 13, 2015, when Ajax in the final calculated was beaten in Utrecht.

http://www.nu.nl/voetbal/  Rypke Bakker Photo: