SBV Excelsior succumbed to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Ajax in this afternoon's Eredivisie clash at the Stadion Woudestein.

The first chance of the match came the way of the hosts in the fifth minute as Adil Auassar fired the ball just wide of Jasper Cillessen's goal.

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On the quarter-hour mark, a Lasse Schone free kick broke through the Excelsior wall before being stopped by goalkeeper Gino Coutinho.

The home side continued to threaten as Auassar had another chance midway through the first half, while Ninos Gouriye also had a shot which Cillessen was equal to.

Ajax stepped it up in the second half as Ricardo van Rhijn struck the Excelsior bar just three minutes after the restart, but the hosts soon countered and went close through Jeff Stans and Auassar.

However, the visitors were the ones who broke the deadlock with just seven minutes to go when Mike van der Hoorn fired into an empty net from about 15 yards out.

In the 88th minute, Ajax made sure of all three points when Richairo Zivkovic struck his first Eredivisie goal for the Dutch giants.