Ajax secured a comfortable victory over Almere City FC at home on Sunday, showcasing their dominance with a 3-0 win at the Johan Cruijff ArenA. Goals from Wout Weghorst, Kenneth Taylor, and Kian Fitz-Jim sealed the deal, illustrating the team’s formidable performance as they wrapped up their final Eredivisie home game of the 2024 season.
With this result, Ajax has climbed back to second place in the Eredivisie standings, taking advantage of Utrecht’s draw against Go Ahead Eagles, which had taken place earlier on the same day. The match began on a tense note for Ajax when Almere thought they had scored first. Devyne Rensch lost possession, allowing Junior Kadile to find the back of the net. Yet, joy turned to dismay as referee Jeroen Manschot disallowed the goal, ruling it out due to a foul on Rensch.
Just minutes after Almere’s disappointment, Ajax capitalized on the opportunity and took the lead. A well-placed cross from Owen Wijndal was slightly deflected by Almere keeper Nick Bakker, landing perfectly for Wout Weghorst. Weghorst made no mistake, driving the ball firmly to the near corner, putting Ajax 1-0 up. The momentum was shifting, and it appeared the home team was ready to dominate.
Five minutes before halftime, Ajax doubled their advantage through Kenneth Taylor's remarkable finish. His midfield partner, Jordan Henderson, delivered a long ball to Taylor, allowing him to let it drop once before executing a lob over Bakker, bringing the score to 2-0. Taylor’s form has been impressive this season, and this goal demonstrated his growing influence under new head coach Francesco Farioli.
Ajax continued to press their advantage and achieved their third goal shortly after the break. Chuba Akpom's skillful chip found Taylor, who headed it down to Kian Fitz-Jim. Without hesitation, Fitz-Jim smashed the ball instantaneously to the corner, making it 3-0. The play exhibited Ajax’s growing chemistry on the pitch as they controlled the game.
The match was not without its share of drama. The decision to disallow Almere's early goal turned out to be pivotal for the flow of the game, and Ajax took full advantage of their momentum. While Almere struggled to find their footing, Ajax's attacking play was relentless, with Wijndal almost contributing to another goal when Weghorst headed his cross onto the crossbar.
Utrecht's earlier match against Go Ahead Eagles featured its own controversies as well during their chaotic 3-3 draw. An early goal by Go Ahead's Enric Llansana swiftly turned sour when he was sent off only four minutes later for denying a goal-scoring opportunity, yet Utrecht, like Ajax, showed resilience as they rallied to equalize twice, only to be denied victory.
Ajax now finds themselves with 36 points, just behind league leaders PSV who have 42 points. Ajax's position is bolstered not only by their recent victory but also by their superior goal difference over Utrecht, which could prove beneficial as the season progresses.
With the season drawing to a close, Ajax's performance against Almere City FC signals their determination to finish strong. The win solidifies their standing and gives them momentum as they look to conclude the season on a high note. Fans were left jubilant after witnessing the team's controlled performance and are now hopeful for the remaining fixtures.
Overall, Ajax’s decisive victory over Almere City demonstrated their attacking prowess and return to form. It sets the stage for what will surely be an exciting finish to the season as they vie to secure their position among the league's top teams.
