Ajax held by Excelsior, trail PSV by five

Soccer Betting Lines

02/18/2007 - Amsterdam, Holland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Just when Ajax had climbed to within three points of league-leaders PSV, the Amsterdam club lost two points over the weekend to fall five off the pace. PSV recorded a 2-0 over Heracles on Saturday, and Ajax followed with a 2-2 draw against Excelsior at Amsterdam Arena on Sunday.

Things started off well for the home side as Edgar Davids put Ajax ahead after 19 minutes with his first goal for the club, but Excelsior responded with a pair of goals in a five-minute span to move in front on the half-hour mark. Andwele Slory and Eldridge Rojer tallied for the visitors, but Ajax sniper Klaas-Jan Huntelaar had his team on level terms heading into the half with a goal in the 38th minute. After a torrid pace in the first half, things slowed considerably in the second half, and the teams were left to split the points.

After a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Werder Bremen in the UEFA Cup during the week, Ajax came out firing and went ahead 19 minutes into the match. Huntelaar was taken down by Excelsior's Henrico Drost, setting up a dangerous free-kick chance. Tom De Mul then rolled the ball to Davids, who slammed a shot into the top corner of the net, giving keeper Theo Zwarthoed no chance.

A poor pass from Johnny Heitinga led to the visitors climbing back into the game six minutes later. His errant pass allowed Slory to carry the ball into the penalty area before beating keeper Maarten Stekelenburg with a low shot into the left corner.

Five minutes later, Excelsior went in front on a brilliant individual play from Rojer. After making room on the left flank for himself, Rojer carried the ball into the box and beat Stekelenburg to make it 2-1 to the visitors.

Another set piece allowed Ajax to equalize in the 38th minute. De Mul's corner was swung into the area and met by the head of Huntelaar, who banged home a powerful header to even the score at 2-2.

An exciting first half was followed by a lackluster second half, with the best chance of breaking the deadlock falling to Ajax's Leonardo, who failed to hit the net from close range.

In other Eredivisie play on Sunday, AZ squandered a chance to move into second place with a 1-1 draw at Groningen, Twente scored twice in the first half and held off Heerenveen for a 2-1 win and Feyenoord got a pair of goals in the opening 20 minutes to get past Utrecht 2-0.

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