Ajax reached the quarter-finals of the KNVB Cup. During a visit to FC Twente, a whim from Dusan Tadic and Mohammed Kudus with about twenty minutes left in the game was enough: 0-1.
This result – their third win in three games under new coach John Heitinga – sees Ajax finish their fifth consecutive season in the last eight of the cup tournament.
Twente starts strong
Not long ago, Twente, in top form at the time, was the parent (0-0) in an Eredivisie match against Ajax in Amsterdam. That ‘only’ ended that night in a draw, but made the Tukkers believe they could beat Ajax.
With the support of the fanatical home fans, Twente posed the biggest threat of the first half. First, a short long-range pass from Ajax defender Jurriën Timber created an opportunity for Virgil Misidjan, who started a sprint, avoiding Edson Álvarez’s interception twice but ultimately giving his team no more than a corner kick.
Misidjan’s close luck started a good period for the home team. Ajax mercenary Anass Salah-Eddine’s attempt, which started due to Michal Sadílek’s injury, was stopped by Ajax goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli and Vaclav Cerny shot wide from the edge of the penalty area.
Ajax only really responded through Steven Berghuis in the closing stages of the first half. Berghui’s shot from behind was stopped by Twente goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall. A few minutes later, even a strong move from Kudus brought nothing because Devyne Rensch’s middle was so sloppy.
Jerusalem brings decision
In any case, the first half of Ajax was characterized by too much carelessness. This picture did not change immediately after the break, as Twente was chasing more and more goals. But Misidjan and Van Wolfswinkel, among others, remained unfocused.
As the end of the match approached, Ajax gradually took the initiative. For example, Steven Bergwijn, who was as keen to score as he did last weekend at Leeuwarden, faced Unnerstall twice.
A successful combination in the penalty area was enough for Ajax. Substitute Francisco Conceição served Tadic, who caught the ball well in Kudus. The Ghanaian was head of Twente’s defense and sent the ball into goal (0:1).
‘Ups and downs’
“Twente was the best team and it was a tough game, but the trophy is all about passing,” Kudus told ESPN. “Football is a sport with ups and downs. Now we’re winning games again, that’s the most important thing.”
Since Heitinga took over, Kudus’ response has been two goals and an assist: “The coach believes in me and gives me a lot of freedom. I try to do my best for the team in every position. This is also important for my development.”
Source: NOS
I’m George Gonzalez, a professional journalist and author at The Nation View. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, I specialize in covering sports news for various print media outlets. My passion for writing has enabled me to craft stories that capture the attention of readers all over the world.
