March, 6 2023.
Super Eagles left back Calvin Bassey sensationally claimed the man of the match award, after helping the side to a hugely deserving 1-0 home win against NEC Nijmegen, at the Johan Cruyff arena, to move up to second on the log standings.
Having been unjustly criticized for the club’s struggles this campaign, the former Glasgow Rangers defender returned to the starting XI, after helping the club reach the Cup semifinals in midweek.
In what was a one-sided first half, but Ajax failed to make the most of their 73% ball possession and 13 shots as they were forced to head into the break goalless.
They however found the breakthrough seven minutes into the second half when Ghanaian midfielder Mohammed Kudus scored his 10th league goal of the season, to put them one goal up.
The host went in search of a second but could not break their visitors as they held on and remained unbeaten in 12 league games, having last suffered a defeat at home in November 2022, when they hosted arch rivals PSV Eindhoven.
Remarkably, the win was also their 1500 win in the Eredivisie; and Bassey was named Man of the Match, while earning a rating of 7.9.
In all, he made 3 tackles, 1 interception, and also completing 83% of his passes in what went down as the 25th win of the season.
Ajax, four time winners of the UEFA Champions League lie second, with 52 points, 3 points adrift of the table topping Feyenoord, and 2 points clear of AZ Alkmaar who are in third.
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