Ajax 3-1 PEC Zwolle Player Ratings: Mika Godts Rated 9.5/10 as Godts Brace Seals Comfortable Victory

In what turned out to be a pulsating Eredivisie encounter at the Johan Cruijff Stadium, Ajax secured a convincing 3-1 victory over a spirited PEC Zwolle side. Home side's dominance in the first half really set the tone for the entire match. They came out of the blocks with intent, and it felt like a goal was inevitable from the get-go.

The deadlock was broken by the ever-reliable Davy Klaassen, who found the back of the net early on. What stood out to us was how Ajax continued to press, not content with a single goal. Their persistence paid off when Mika Godts doubled the lead before halftime, a strike that seemed to knock the stuffing out of the visitors.

PEC Zwolle, to their credit, emerged for the second half with renewed purpose. They managed to pull a goal back through Kaj de Rooij, which introduced a spell of tension and made for a more balanced contest. However, the day belonged to Mika Godts, who extinguished any hopes of a comeback with his second goal of the evening, sealing a well-deserved win for Ajax.

Ajax Player Ratings vs PEC Zwolle

Here are Ajax Player Ratings vs PEC Zwolle

Goalkeeper

Vitezslav Jaros - 6.5: He wasn't overly troubled for large parts of the game. Made a couple of important saves when called upon and couldn't do much about the goal he conceded. His distribution was decent, starting a few attacks from the back. A steady, if unspectacular, performance.

Defenders

Anton Gaaei - 7.5: A really energetic performance down the right flank. He provided the assist for a goal and was a constant outlet, creating a big chance for his team. His crossing was a bit hit-and-miss, but his attacking intent was a huge positive for Ajax throughout the game.

Ko Itakura - 7.0: Solid and composed at the heart of the defence before being substituted. He read the game well, making four interceptions and boasting a superb 94% pass accuracy. From our perspective, his departure didn't destabilize the team, but his presence was certainly missed.

Owen Wijndal - 6.0: A bit of a mixed bag from the left-back. He picked up a clumsy yellow card and seemed to struggle in some of his defensive duels. He got forward a few times but lacked the final product. An average day at the office for him.

Youri Baas - 7.5: Extremely involved throughout the match, with over 100 touches. He was excellent on the ball, completing 93% of his passes. Defensively, he was very strong, winning seven of his ten duels and making some crucial tackles. A very assured display.

Midfielders

Youri Regeer - 6.5: Very tidy in possession, as his 97% pass accuracy shows. However, he picked up an early yellow card and struggled in his physical battles, winning only one of his six duels. An okay performance before he was substituted.

Kenneth Taylor - 8.0: He was absolutely instrumental in midfield, especially in the first half. He provided a beautiful assist and created two big chances for his teammates. We noticed his vision and passing range were a constant problem for Zwolle. He ran the show.

Davy Klaassen - 7.5: The captain led by example, popping up to score the crucial opening goal. He was a bundle of energy in the midfield, winning tackles and battling for every ball. A typical all-action performance from him that set the tempo for his team.

Forwards

Mika Godts - 9.5: Without a doubt, the man of the match. His two goals were taken with clinical precision, and he was a livewire throughout. What stood out to us was his intelligent movement and composure in front of goal. An outstanding, match-winning performance from the young attacker.

Steven Berghuis - 7.0: A solid and creative display. He was always looking to make things happen, creating two chances and linking up play effectively. He didn't have a direct goal contribution, but his influence on Ajax's attacking play was clear before he was taken off.

Wout Weghorst - 6.5: It was a frustrating night for the big striker. He worked hard and won his fair share of aerial duels but couldn't find his scoring touch. He missed a big chance and was often isolated. You could see his frustration, but the effort was there.

Substitutes

James McConnell - N/A: Came on to help see out the game.

Josip Sutalo - N/A: Replaced Itakura and kept things solid at the back.

Oliver Edvardsen - N/A: Didn't have enough time to make a significant impact.

Oscar Gloukh - N/A: Had one decent shot on target that was well saved.

Jorthy Mokio - N/A: A late replacement for the star of the show, Godts.

Manager

J. Heitinga - 7.5: He got his tactics spot on from the start. His team came out flying and established a commanding lead. He managed the game well, making sensible substitutions to counter Zwolle's brief resurgence. A very professional win orchestrated by the manager.

PEC Zwolle Player Ratings vs Ajax

Here are PEC Zwolle Player Ratings vs Ajax

Goalkeeper

Tom de Graaff - 6.0: It's always a tough task away at Ajax. He conceded three goals but also made three saves, including a couple of smart stops that prevented the scoreline from becoming embarrassing. He couldn't be faulted for the goals, really.

Defenders

Sherel Floranus - 5.5: He had a difficult evening against Ajax's fluid attack. He struggled to cope with the movement and pace of the opposition forwards and was often on the back foot. A tough day at the office.

Olivier Aertssen - 6.0: The defender was busy, making a number of clearances and a key block. However, being part of a backline that conceded three goals is never easy. He fought hard but was ultimately part of an overwhelmed defensive unit.

Anselmo García MacNulty - 6.0: He had a header on target but also missed a big chance that could have changed the game's complexion. Defensively, he was stretched and made a few last-ditch tackles. A mixed performance from him.

Simon Graves - 6.5: Probably the pick of the defenders. He was in the thick of the action, making seven clearances, one of which was a crucial goal-line stop. He was still on the losing side, but he put his body on the line for the team.

Midfielders

Ryan Thomas - 6.5: The captain put in a real shift. He made an incredible 10 ball recoveries, showing his commitment and desire. However, he also picked up a booking and was sometimes overrun in the midfield battle against a superior Ajax side.

Jamiro Monteiro - 5.0: A really poor performance from the midfielder. From our perspective, he was completely anonymous and failed to make any impact on the game. It was no surprise to see him hooked at halftime. A day to forget.

Thijs Oosting - 6.5: He showed some quality, especially with his crossing. He created a big chance and put in a decent defensive shift with four tackles. One of the few Zwolle players who looked comfortable on the ball under pressure.

Forwards

Koen Kostons - 7.0: He was a bright spark for the visitors. He provided the assist for their only goal with a clever pass and was a willing runner all game. He battled hard but lacked consistent support from his teammates.

Dylan Mbayo - 6.0: He won several free-kicks, showing his ability to draw fouls and relieve pressure. However, his final product was lacking, and he didn't offer much of a goal threat. A frustrating performance.

Kaj de Rooij - 7.5: Zwolle's best player on the day. He took his goal superbly, showing great composure to give his team a lifeline. He was a constant threat on the counter-attack and the only player who genuinely looked like he could score for the visitors.

Substitutes

Zico Buurmeester - N/A: Brought on at halftime but couldn't swing the momentum.

Jan Faberski - N/A: Came on and delivered one cross but had little impact.

Shola Shoretire - N/A: Had limited time to influence the game.

Gabriel Reiziger - N/A: Missed a headed chance shortly after coming on.

Manager

Henry van der Vegt - 6.0: His team looked out of their depth in the first half. His halftime change and second-half approach were better, leading to a goal and a more competitive period. However, the initial setup was too passive and allowed Ajax to take control far too easily.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Mika Godts