Looking to return to Dutch league prominence, Ajax Amsterdam put together a strong showing as they drew within a point of the top spot in the Eredivisie.
Behind a four-goal performance from Luis Suárez, Ajax easily defeated VVV Venlo, 4-0 on the road. After seven matches, Suárez has accounted for 10 of Ajax’s league high 22 goals. While Suárez’s latest performance may garner the attention of the legendary Ajax and Holland footballer Johan Cruyff, the recently promoted Venlo have done little to turn heads this season. Struggling to find the win column, Venlo have drawn five out their first seven matches.
With the win, Ajax sits a point behind Twente Enschede and PSV Eindhoven, who both sit atop the Eredivisie with 17 points to date.
PSV, the other perennial challenger for the top spot along with Ajax, took three points on the road against Feyenoord Rotterdam. Veteran forward Danny Koevermans netted two early goals enroute to the 3-1 victory.
PSV had lost the same match-up on the road to Feyenoord last year 1-0; coach Fred Rutten has recaptured those three points as PSV looks to retain its early season lead atop the table.
Reigning champion AZ Alkmaar found itself on the wrong side of a 1-0 decision at home to NEC Nijmegen. Currently in sixth place, AZ is likely dealing with the ware and tare of playing Champions League football, having lost 1-0 to Olympiakos only three days prior to its match with NEC. With at least five more Champions League left for AZ, the schedule gets no easier for the Dutch champions with matches versus Twente and Ajax on the horizon.
It appears the white and red striped shirts of Ajax looked poised to end the five-year championship-drought. Having not allowed a goal since the 4-3 shootout at PSV back on Aug. 16, coach Martin Jol has his squad playing championship caliber defense; headlined by Holland national team goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.
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