Ajax have secured sole leadership in the Dutch Eredivisie after a dominant 4-0 victory over Heracles Almelo at the Johan Cruyff ArenA.
Manager Francesco Farioli made a few tweaks to his lineup, handing 19-year-old defender Dies Janse his second start of the season.
However, the front three remained familiar, with Mika Godts, Brian Brobbey, and Bertrand Traore returning to the starting eleven following their substitute roles in Thursday’s 2-0 Europa League win against Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in Brussels.
Ajax entered the match knowing that a win would put them ahead of PSV, following the Eindhoven side’s 2-2 draw with FC Utrecht on Saturday.
Last weekend, they had already moved level at the top after beating Fortuna Sittard 2-0, just a day after PSV dropped points in a 1-1 draw against Willem II. However, Ajax held the edge due to having played fewer matches.
The game started at a slow tempo, with Heracles managing to stay competitive in the early stages. They even came close to taking a shock lead when Luka Kulenovic narrowly missed in front of former Heracles goalkeeper Remko Pasveer.
Ajax’s breakthrough came in the 13th minute when Belgian winger Mika Godts coolly finished off a beautiful long pass from Steven Berghuis.
Rather than allowing an equalizer, Ajax extended their advantage before halftime. A well-constructed attack involving Josip Sutalo and Bertrand Traore was expertly finished by Brian Brobbey, who finally found the net after an early missed opportunity.
With his team comfortably in control, Farioli made some changes in the second half. January signing Oliver Edvardsen was introduced for his first minutes at the Johan Cruyff ArenA, while Mika Godts was given a well-earned rest.
Edvardsen wasted no time making an impact. The Norwegian winger acrobatically lifted a Jorrel Hato cross over goalkeeper Fabian de Keijzer, marking his Ajax debut with a stunning goal to make it 3-0.
He nearly doubled his tally moments later, but instead, it was vice-captain Davy Klaassen who found the net.
Nicknamed Mister 1-0, Klaassen slotted home in the 64th minute, securing his 100th goal for Ajax and humorously earning the new moniker Mister 1-0-0.
The celebratory mood in Amsterdam continued as two of the club’s brightest young talents made their senior debuts.
Rayane Bounida, fresh off signing a three-year contract extension, and 17-year-old Sean Steur both got a taste of first-team action in the closing minutes.
The emphatic victory gives Ajax a two-point cushion over PSV heading into a crucial week.
Their focus now shifts to the second leg of their UEFA Europa League knockout tie against Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, followed by a home clash against Go Ahead Eagles in a shortened four-match Eredivisie gameweek.
For Heracles, the loss ends their impressive nine-game unbeaten streak. A shock result in Amsterdam could have propelled them into the top half of the league, but instead, they leave the capital empty-handed.
