🇳🇱 NEC hold Ajax as all three Eredivisie giants slip up on same weekend | OneFootball

Ajax travelled to the Goffertstadion on Sunday and were held 1-1 by NEC, seeing all three Eredivisie giants slip up on the same weekend.

Scorers: Dimata 52′; Klaassen 36′

Heading into this clash, the reigning champions were handed a boost as PSV Eindhoven were held at home by Sparta Rotterdam 0-0 on Saturday.

However, Ajax needed to dig deep in their clash against NEC as the hosts prevented Alfred Schreuder’s men from truly getting a grip on the game.

Despite 67% possession and 21 shots (seven on target) compared to only six for the hosts (one on target), just one play ended in a goal.

Francisco Conceição drove the ball forward and crossed out wide to Dušan Tadić, who sent the ball into a wide-open Davy Klaassen, and the Dutchman volleyed home for 1-0.

With only one goal the difference, NEC came out into the second half with a hunger to take the game to Ajax.

The hosts subsequently equalised within seven minutes of the restart when Landry Dimata redirected a corner beyond goalkeeper Remko Pasveer for 1-1 in front of a raucous crowd.

The remainder of the second 45 was a nervy affair – Klaassen came inches away from securing a brace while Conceição also fell short.

The best chance to win the match came in the final two minutes when Edson Álvarez saw two headers stopped by Jasper Cillessen.

Elsewhere, Utrecht and leaders Feyenoord drew 1-1 thanks to a goal from Alireza Jahanbakhsh in the 90th minute, meaning all three Eredivisie giants dropped points on the same weekend.

Looking at the table, Feyenoord have 34 points, Ajax and PSV are tied on 31 then Twente and AZ Alkmaar (who also drew 1-1) have 30.