Ajax wins a tough match against FC Utrecht and takes the lead in the women’s premier league

Ajax is the new leader in the women’s premier league for the time being. At home, the Amsterdam team defeated number three FC Utrecht in a tough, but entertaining match 1-0. Ajax did experience injuries: Danique Noordman had to leave the field limping after a strong tackle from former teammate Nikita Tromp.

Number two PSV plays against AZ on Sunday and can then take over the lead again. Feyenoord remained in fourth place after a big win at Fortuna Sittard (0-6).

Just like in the previous match against FC Twente, Ajax immediately took the initiative and broke through the Utrecht defense.

This led to a goal by Lily Yohannes in the fifth minute. This was followed by a fierce but entertaining match, in which both teams did not shy away from the game. Before halftime, both sides received two yellow cards, including for Tromp. The striker, who exchanged Ajax for Utrecht last summer, escaped her second after the break because her tackle on Noordman went unpunished.

Ajax captain Sherida Spitse also escaped red, she only received a yellow card after she had knocked down attacker Lotje de Keijzer just outside the penalty area.

FC Utrecht once again proved that it can make traditional top teams difficult. The opportunities went back and forth. The Utrecht defense with Amber Visscher also excellently intercepted the ball each time and prevented Ajax from scoring more goals.

In the last quarter of the match, Utrecht pressed. Visscher’s shot went just wide. Then Elisha Kruize pulled off a clever move; her long shot ended up just short of the ropes thanks to the hand of goalkeeper Regina van Eijk.

Later in the evening, Feyenoord, number four in the Premier League, had no trouble with Fortuna Sittard: 0-6. At halftime it was already 0-3.

After fifteen minutes of play, Sanne Koopmans scored the best goal of the match: a curved ball over Fortuna keeper Claire Dinkla. The team from Sittard seemed to hold out until half time, but conceded two goals in ten seconds in the injury time of the first half. Jarne Teulings and Esmee de Graaf scored.

After the break, Feyenoord continued to attack and create chances. Through Ella van Kerkhove, Romee van de Lavoir and Tess van Bentem, the Rotterdam women finished 0-6.

Next Sunday Feyenoord will play against number five FC Twente.

The football players of PEC Zwolle have recorded their first victory of this season. They won 3-0 when they visited Excelsior. This means that for now they have been released from last place and have climbed to ninth place.

The team of head coach Jim Brinkhof, who is only 30, is talented. At the last Under-20 World Cup in Colombia, PEC was the main supplier with six players. They made it to the semi-finals.

So far, they have not been able to make an impact in the Premier League with this young talent – the average age is under twenty years old. They only managed to get one point from six rounds. Excelsior – which is also dangling at the bottom – has taken three so far.

The Zwolle team started sharply and had already scored three goals before half time. Sterre Kroezen opened the score in the first minute. More than half an hour later, midfielder Sophie van Vugt and attacker Hanna Huizenga, who came over from Fortuna, scored.

As many goals as the first half was, things went smoothly for PEC after the break. Excelsior fought for what it was worth and it was mainly thanks to goalkeeper Inge Tijink that the Rotterdam team did not score.

PEC eventually managed to recover nicely, although the fourth goal took some time. A free kick just went over. The promising cross from Zoë Zuidberg, who played an excellent game, was just not tapped in.