Vermealen battles Matondo
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - Ajax lost at Roda JC 2-1 on Sunday to drop to third place in the Dutch league, nine points behind defending champion PSV Eindhoven.
"This was a crucial match and we came away empty-handed," Ajax coach Adrie Koster said.
Ajax’s league top scorer Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Siem de Jong both missed early chances.
Roda scored first when Roland Lamah beat Maarten Stekelenburg in the 22nd minute.
Huntelaar equalized in the 38th with his 22nd goal of the season after De Jong headed down a cross from Bruno Silva.
Ajax appeared to have taken the lead four minutes into the second half when Silva curled in a free kick, but referee Serge Gumienny ruled an Ajax forward was offside.
With 11 minutes left to play, Anouar Hadouir sealed victory for Roda with a powerful header after a pass from Dieter Van Tornhout.
The result came a day after PSV drew 1-1 with Heerenveen.
"We were determined to take all three points here," Koster said. "You know your rivals have dropped points and you can draw closer to them. Unfortunately, we were not sharp enough."
PSV leads with 53 points, ahead of second-place SC Heerenveen with 44. Ajax, Feyenoord and NAC Breda also have 44 points.
AZ, a title contender last season, lost at NEC Nijmegen 5-2 and is now 11th in the league with only four points from its last eight matches.
Also Sunday, VVV Venlo and Willem II drew 1-1, and Excelsior won at Sparta Rotterdam 1-0.
Source: HOL: Ajax drops to third