The day after Ajax’s resounding victory over NEC (5-0) during the first round in the Eredivisie, the team of coach Erik ten Hag also beat Heracles Almelo. The team from Amsterdam played a closed exhibition game with the Almeloërs at De Toekomst. Danilo and Zakaria Labyad were responsible for the hits. Ten Hag joined his reserve players, with Remko Pasveer wearing the captain’s armband against his former employer.
Just like against NEC, the goals before half-time also fell for Ajax against Heracles. Early in the game, Danilo was given an imposed opportunity to open the score. After a measured cross from David Neres, however, he couldn’t get his foot behind the ball well enough and shot for long. Moments later, it was hit for the Brazilian striker. After an indirect corner, Ar’jany Martha put the ball on Danilo’s head, who gave Alessandro Damen no chance.
Ajax was the parent team on the training complex, but had to see how Heracles almost came alongside. After a messy situation, the ball fell at the feet of Nikolai Laursen, but he hit the post from close by with a hard shot. The score was doubled by Ajax after more than half an hour of play. The preparatory work this time came from the foot of Neres, who served Labyad on the edge of the penalty area. The midfielder of Ajax left Damen without a chance with a placed shot through the inside of the right post: 2-0.
Heracles had opportunities in the second half to bring the tension back to the game, but failed to do so. Adrián Szöke, among others, killed a great opportunity. The striker was set free in front of goalkeeper Pasveer, but found the Ajax goalkeeper in his way. Also a possibility of Mohamed Amissi could not be promoted to goal by the Almeloërs.
Basic setup Ajax: Pasveer, Ekkelenkamp, Magallán, Rensch, Baas, Jensen, Neres, Taylor, Danilo, Labyad, Martha