Ajax came from behind to record a thumping 4-1 victory over 10-man Heerenveen in their Eredivisie clash at the Amsterdam ArenA.
The visitors started the game well and took the lead in the 18th minute when Luciano Slagveer collected the ball just outside the box and drilled an effort past Jasper Cillessen into the top corner.
Ajax struggled to create in the first half, despite enjoying the majority of possession, and cut frustrated figures in the final third of the pitch.
However, Hereeveen were reduced to 10 men when Slagveer went from hero to zero, as he was sent off for his second bookable offence just before half time.
In the second half, the home side were still struggling to hit their stride against, but they caught a lucky break when Daley Sinkgraven turned the ball into his own net from Lucas Andersen's cross into the box.
Ajax then took the lead minutes later when the ball was once again lifted into the penalty area, and Anwar El-Ghazi was afforded space and time to pick his spot to fire a volley into the top corner.
Frank de Boer's men took full control of the game when Ricardo Kishna seized on an error at the back from Pele van Anholt, and then raced into the box before firing an effort past Kristoffer Nordfeldt.
The home side sealed their win when Kolbeinn Sigthorsson was brought down in the box by Kenny Otigba and a penalty was awarded. Arkadiusz Milik took the spot kick and buried his strike past Nordfeldt.
Simon Sinclair
