Ajax profit from draw Dutch leaders PSV

Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-19 08:15:51|Editor: Yurou
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THE HAGUE, Feb. 18(Xinhua) -- Ajax came closer to Dutch Eredivisie leaders PSV after a 1-0 win at PEC Zwolle on Sunday.

With PSV losing two points on Saturday Ajax needed a win to narrow the gap to five points. In the first half Ajax had several chances, but the visitors were not able to convert any of those. It took until the 54th minute for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to finish a pass by David Neres.

Justin Kluivert also hit the cross-bar, but the scoring didn't change in the remainder of the second half. The win brought Ajax to 57 points after 24 match rounds, five behind league leaders PSV and seven ahead of number three AZ.

On Saturday PSV dropped points at home against sc Heerenveen (2-2), after 22 home victories in a row. With goals by Santiago Arias and Luuk de Jong PSV seemed on their way to another win, but after a red card for Mexican top scorer Hirving Lozano for hitting Lucas Woudenberg, the match changed.

With ten against eleven PSV was pushed back and after Stijn Schaars narrowed the margin it was Reza Ghoochannejhad who equalized in the 82nd minute. The red card means PSV will miss Eredivisie top scorer Lozano (13 goals) next week at Feyenoord through suspension.

Robin van Persie started for the first time for reigning champions Feyenoord since his return to Rotterdam in January. The 34-year-old forward produced the winning goal against Heracles Almelo (1-0) on Sunday with a shot from outside the penalty area.

Also on Sunday FC Utrecht beat Roda JC 4-1 in Kerkrade and FC Twente drew 1-1 against Sparta Rotterdam. On Saturday Vitesse lost 2-1 at home against Excelsior, AZ beat NAC 3-1 in Breda, ADO Den Haag beat Willem II 2-1 and on Friday VVV-Venlo and FC Groningen drew 1-1.

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