Alkmaar, Netherlands (My Sportsbook) - AZ Alkmaar moved to the top of the Eredivisie table on Sunday with a 2-0 win over Ajax at Almaarderhout. Demy De Zeeuw converted a penalty kick midway through the opening half and Ari added a second goal in the 51st minute for AZ, which is level on points with NAC and one clear of Ajax. The Amsterdam side was held without a goal for the first time all season as their six-game winning streak was brought to an end, leaving the team third in the table. AZ had the better of the play in the opening 20 minutes and they went in front in the 23rd minute when Eyong Enoh was called for a foul inside the area and De Zeeuw stepped forward and sent Ajax goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer the wrong way. The second half saw some heavy snowfall and it made for tough playing conditions for both teams. However, AZ was able to double its advantage shortly after the restart as Ari's neat flick from a right-wing cross found its way past Vermeer and inside the far corner. The conditions really began to deteriorate as the game wore on, and Ajax had no way back into the match as AZ was able to comfortably hold off the visitors for a deserved three points. Feyenoord ran its unbeaten streak to four games with a 3-1 win over Den Haag, Groningen had a chance to join AZ and NAC at the top but instead fell 3-0 at Willem II while Utrecht handled Vitesse, 4-0. |
