Against FC Twente, Alfred Schreuder was able to recall some players who were off last week. Jurriën Timber, Edson Álvarez, and Brian Brobbey, absent from Wednesday's cup match against FC Den Bosch, were all in the starting line-up Saturday evening in the first home game of 2023. It was goalkeeper Gero Rulli's first appearance at the Johan Cruyff ArenA.
Not until the 19th minute could Ajax pose a serious threat. Davy Klaassen headed on target, but Unnerstall just tapped the ball away from his posts. The next threat from the Amsterdam side also came from 'Mister 1-0', who unfortunately also failed to score that time.
Red card for Rensch
Twente was the better team and after more than half an hour Rensch found it necessary to tug on Van Wolfswinkel's shirt. In the fall, the Ajax player got another boot in his face, so was taken off on a stretcher. What's worse, referee Lindhout had also given him a red card.
In the second half, Schreuder took Brobbey off in favour of Kudus. But surviving another 45 minutes with ten men was a big ask for Ajax. Yet Ajax appeared to be taking the lead in the 67th minute, when after a brilliant attack a smart cross from Taylor almost went into the net.
Bergwijn comes on
With twenty minutes left on the clock, Steven Bergwijn was allowed to make his first official appearance for 2023.The score stayed the same. Ajax were stuck at 0-0 in the first home game of the year.
Ajax - FC Twente 0-0
Red card: 35. Rensch
Ajax: Rulli; Sanchez, Timber, Bassey, Rensch; Alvarez, Klaassen, Taylor; Conceiçao (71. Bergwijn), Brobbey (46. Kudus), Tadic
