01 DEC 2019; FC Twente - Ajax; Match Day 15

[Orange14]

Fresh off the CL win in Lille, Ajax hit the road again (cue up the Willie Nelson song please: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBN86y30Ufc ) for a match in Enschede. Veltman and Blind will probably be back in the team again. Props to Schuurs for a very nice match last night. He should be ready for a starting position later on in the season as he's better on the ball than Veltman.

[Ayman]

The strength in depth of this team is amazing. No Veltman? There's Schuurs. No Labyad? There's Lang. I just hope Ziyech recovers in time from his arm, hoping it just feels a bit sore/strained at the most.

[Orange14]

Ajax have not won in Enschede in several years. Labyad is out and Ziyech is listed as questionable. Noa Lang is likely to start. Veltman and Blind will be back in the middle. Don't know if Mazraoui or Dest will be at RB.

[Ayman]

Ziyech is fit to start, Labyad is out, Veltman is 50/50, although I would hope there would be a precaution and allow Schuurs more time, he did ok against Lille.

[SPL]

Ziyech fit and Lang replaces Labyad.Mazraoui,Veltman Blind all playing.

[Ayman]

wtf! Twente are 2-0 up?

[rjf1]

20 minutes in - 2 goals down -Mazraoui should have been replaced 15 minutes ago.

[Ayman]

Maybe Mazroui isn't fit? I would put Veltman at right back and give Schuurs a chance, the only other option is Dest, right back for right back.

[Ayman]

Promes isn't injured is he? Huntelaar warming up

[Ayman]

Lang has pulled it back! 2-1!

[rjf1]

Terrific effort by Ziyech fighting for the ball on the end line and pulling it back for Lang to drill it into the net. That's one back - now to get the next one.

[Tom_]

It looks like our luck ran out in terms of counter attacking teams not putting their chances away. Twente have dropped extremely deep after they scored their second.

[SPL]

Caught twice by them but a nice goal by Lang .Still plenty of goals left in this game but still a shock to be 2-0 down so early

[Ayman]

Caught twice by them but a nice goal by Lang .Still plenty of goals left in this game but still a shock to be 2-0 down so early

On the bright side, it will demonstrate the gap between Ajax and other Eredivisie sides isn't as big as popular opinion suggests.

Dutch league is currently 9th strongest in Europe.

[rjf1]

They came out playing at a super high tempo pace and we weren't keeping up with them. That type of pace can't be sustained over long periods and so we were able to get back into the game. Lang just got his second of the night and now all that's left is to get the winner.

[Tom_]

Huntelaar! You just know he’s going to score one

[SPL]

agree Tom KJH was certain to score

[Amol]

3-2!!!! Huntelaaaarr!!

[rjf1]

Huntelaaaarrr!!!! And we're on our way.

[Amol]

Dest on for Nico. Nico was already on a yellow - but that's the first time I've seen ETH sub him off for being on a yellow. ETH really wants the points here.

[Amol]

Lang scores his hat-trick!! Wasn't that offside?

[SPL]

Lang cheeky goal 4-2 and there is more to come we are now on fire

[rjf1]

Lang gets the hat trick on a botched pass back to the goalie. Not offside because it was played in by the Twente defender.

[Tom_]

Yikes. This has to be one of the most mistake-riddled matches I’ve seen!

The pitch looks extremely sluggish, I guess that’s contributing to the mistakes, but I also wonder if that was done to put Ajax off their passing game?

[Amol]

The pitch looks extremely sluggish, I guess that’s contributing to the mistakes, but I also wonder if that was done to put Ajax off their passing game?

I was thinking the same about the pitch as well. So it's not just me going crazy.