Ajax gets rare victory at Utrecht with last-gasp goal from Schone
Xinhua, January 23, 2017 Adjust font size:
Ajax grabbed the first victory in eight years at FC Utrecht in the Dutch top soccer league Eredivisie, with Lasse Schone producing the late winner and only goal of the match on Sunday.
Since a 2-0 victory on March 1, 2009, Ajax had not won at Utrecht.
This time the Amsterdam based team also had a difficult afternoon as home player Richairo Zivkovic, on loan from Ajax, hit the cross-bar and Nacer Barazite missed a major opportunity. On behalf of Ajax Hakim Ziyech also hit the cross-bar.
After a hand ball by Barazite Ajax was awarded a penalty by referee Bjorn Kuipers and got the chance to come in front. However, Schone's attempt went over the cross-bar. In the 83rd minute the Danish midfielder made up for his mistake with a fine shot into the Utrecht net, handing Ajax the second consecutive win in 2017.
Also on Sunday reigning champions PSV bounced back miraculously from a 3-2 deficit against sc Heerenveen in Eindhoven. After PSV's Gaston Pereiro missed a penalty, Heerenveen striker Reza Ghoochannejhad gave the visitors a 3-2 lead with 10 minutes remaining. The hosts turned around the situation in the closing minutes as Marco van Ginkel and Hector Moreno brought PSV to a 4-3 victory with goals in the 89th en 90th minute respectively.
On Saturday Feyenoord booked their 5th win in a row, but it was a narrow 1-0 victory at home against Willem II. The home team played a good first half and came in front through a header by Jens Toornstra. After a lackluster performance in the second half Feyenoord were lucky to get the three points.
AZ drew 1-1 against Sparta Rotterdam on Saturday, ADO Den Haag lost 2-1 against PEC Zwolle and FC Groningen drew 1-1 against Vitesse. On Friday FC Twente won the eastern derby against Heracles Almelo 1-0.
Feyenoord now lead the table with 48 points from 19 matches, followed by Ajax (43), PSV (40), sc Heerenveen (32) and AZ (32). Enditem