Eredivisie Wrap: Ajax edge Groningen, Zwolle beat Utrecht

Eredivisie leaders Ajax returned to winning ways on Thursday with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Groningen.

The hosts opened the scoring from the spot at the Amsterdam Arena, with Lasse Schone finding the target from 12 yards for the second consecutive home match against Groningen.

But Frank de Boer’s men were given a scare when Filip Kostic curled home a wonderful left-footed effort before the break.

Ajax pushed for a winner and finally found the net seven minutes from time when substitute Kolbeinn Sigthorsson headed home from a Siem de Jong cross from the left.

The result sends Ajax four points clear at the top of the Dutch top flight, while Groningen sit ninth.

In the day’s other match, Zwolle came from behind to pick up a 2-1 victory over 10-man Utrecht.

Juan Agudelo – on loan from Premier League outfit Stoke City – opened the scoring for Utrecht in the 24th minute, turning well on the edge of the penalty area before smashing home his first goal for the club.

But the hosts suffered a setback shortly before the hour mark when Adam Sarota made a poor challenge on Guyon Fernandez, earning him a red card.

And Zwolle took full advantage as Denis Mahmudov and Fred Benson finding the net in the space of three second-half minutes to snatch all three points.

The result lifts Zwolle to eighth, while Utrecht have now gone six matches without a win and sit 12th.