Ajax Vs. Twente, 2011 Dutch Eredivisie: Twente Manage A Draw Thanks To Late Goal

It looked like Ajax would get the win they need to stake their claim to first place in the Dutch Eredivisie. They were up a goal at home and Twente looked largely impotent all afternoon, clearly lacking the presence of Bryan Ruiz. Then, Luuk de Jong popped out of nowhere just three minutes from full time to put home an equalizer and earn Twente a point in a 1-1 with Ajax at Amsterdam Arena to maintain their spot atop the league.

Ajax had gone ahead after just 10 minutes thanks to Miralem Sulejmani’s tap in finish. With Ajax defending a set piece in their own end, it was Kolbeinn Sigthorsson who ignited the attack. With one touch he played a beautiful ball from inside Ajax’s own third that had Derk Boerrigter off and running at an out of sorts Twente defense. Boerrigter ran half the length of the field before sliding the ball across for Sulejmani to finish into an open net.

Sulejmani’s goal should have been the first of several for the Serbian, but he missed a couple chances. Sigthorsson missed a couple of his own and Twente made them pay for their inability to ice the match when de Jong got on the end of a Peter Wisgerhof cross and nodded home the equalizer in the 87th minute.

The draw keeps Twente top of the table, but AZ Alkmaar is just a point behind with a match in hand, while their attack remains a question without Ruiz. Ajax finally got their defense somewhat sorted out on Saturday, but they were wasteful going forward and will undoubtedly feel as if they dropped two points at home.