Ajax Vrouwen Narrows Gap to One Point After Defeating FC Twente 2-0
Ajax Vrouwen defeated league leader FC Twente 2-0 to narrow the gap at the top of the standings to a single point. The victory on Sunday injected fresh tension into the Eurojackpot Vrouwen Eredivisie title race, handing the previously unbeaten Enschede side their first defeat of the season and marking Twente’s second match without a win following a draw against PEC Zwolle.
Mirte van Koppen Delivers as Substitute With Two Goals
Mirte van Koppen completely turned the match around after entering as a substitute at the hour mark. Coaches Anouk Bruil and Corina Dekker introduced fresh legs in the 60th minute, and Van Koppen immediately exploited her speed against Twente back Leonie Vliek. She broke the deadlock with an impressive sprint to score the opening goal, then followed up five minutes later by converting a cross from Xanne Kip to make it 2-0.
First-Half Dominance Fails to Yield Goals for FC Twente
FC Twente controlled the opening half largely on the ball, though the pressure did not translate into clear-cut scoring opportunities. Twente forward Eva Oude Elberink received a promising cross but failed to generate power with her shot, while Ajax goalkeeper Danae van der Vliet—replacing the injured Femke Liefting—kept a clean sheet, including a crucial save against Jill Roord after halftime. At the other end, Ajax created the sharper openings through Katja Snoeijs before the second-half tactical changes shifted the momentum.
Late Red Card Compounds Twente Woes
Following Van Koppen’s quick-fire double, FC Twente were forced to play the remainder of the match with ten players after Leonie Vliek received her second yellow card, an incident sparked during Van Koppen’s attacking surge. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Twente mounted a brief flurry of late pressure, but a sustained comeback failed to materialize as Ajax safely saw out the remainder of the fixture.
Standings Implications and Upcoming Fixtures
The result leaves FC Twente clinging to the top spot in the Eredivisie with just a one-point advantage over chasing Ajax. The defeat halts Twente’s momentum following a tough week that included domestic dropped points, while Ajax capitalizes on the stumble to reignite the championship battle.
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