Eredivisie

Ajax Cruise Past Telstar with Second-Half Flurry to Keep Eredivisie Push Alive

A disciplined 4-4-1-1 display from Ajax saw them overturn a tight first half and run out 4-0 winners away at BUKO Stadion, with Davy Klaassen and Steven Berghuis sparking the collapse.

2026-08-31

Ajax turned a cagey opening period into a statement second half, running out 4-0 winners at BUKO Stadion in Velsen to keep their Eredivisie charge on track. After a goalless first 37 minutes, the visitors broke the deadlock through Davy Klaassen, teeing up a dominant spell that left Telstar reeling.

At a glance

• D. Klaassen (37', Ajax) opened the scoring, assisted by S. Berghuis.
• S. Berghuis (56') and T. Arokodare (60') doubled and tripled the lead inside four minutes.
• Marcos Leonardo added a 78th-minute finish to seal a 4-0 away win under coach Michel.

The hosts, operating under Henk Brugge's 3-4-2-1 shape, competed resolutely early but were punished the moment Ajax's tempo clicked up a gear. Klaassen's near-post finish from Berghuis's cutback gave the visitors a cushion they would never relinquish, and the assist provider himself doubled the margin just past the hour mark. Osman Gloukh's pass found Berghuis arriving late in the box, and the captain's low drive restored the two-goal buffer.

Match context

Ajax's ability to shift gears after the break defined the contest. Telstar's high press, designed to disrupt the visitors' build-up, lost cohesion as the game wore on, and the space between their back three and midfield line grew increasingly exposed. With Michel's side enjoying greater positional rotation, the hosts struggled to match the rhythm of a team that had already shown its quality in the opening weeks of the campaign.

The home side's 3-4-2-1 system, while offering width, left them vulnerable on transitions. Once Ajax's lone striker linked play effectively, the channels opened consistently, allowing Klaassen and later Arokodare to exploit the gaps. Telstar's inability to retain possession in midfield meant their attacking unit was largely reduced to hopeful long balls, none of which troubled the visiting goalkeeper.

Competitive and tactical consequences

The result moves Ajax to fourth in the Eredivisie table after three matches, accumulating seven points as they continue their push for a top-three finish. Telstar, by contrast, drop to 13th with three points from three games, leaving them rooted in the relegation zone and under increasing pressure to address defensive frailties exposed by this heavy defeat.

For Telstar, the second-half collapse will raise questions about game management. Leading up to the break, they had limited Ajax to speculative efforts, but the loss of defensive shape in the final 35 minutes cost them dearly. The absence of a commanding presence in midfield meant they could not stem the flow of possession, and their lack of pressing intensity allowed Berghuis and Klaassen to dictate terms.

Ajax's performance, meanwhile, offers a blueprint for future fixtures. Michel's 4-4-1-1 structure provided balance, with the full-backs offering support without overcommitting, and the central midfield pair maintaining numerical superiority. The fluid interchange between the front three — particularly the movement of Klaassen dropping deep and Arokodare's hold-up play — created the conditions for the decisive burst.

Key takeaways

• Ajax's patience paid off: a controlled first half gave way to a clinical second period, with four goals scored between the 56th and 78th minutes.
• Berghuis was the fulcrum: contributing a goal and two assists, the veteran dictated tempo and unlocked Telstar's resistance repeatedly.
• Telstar's defensive structure collapsed: unable to cope with Ajax's fluid attack, they conceded three goals in four minutes, highlighting a concerning lack of resilience.
• Eredivisie implications: Ajax's win keeps them in the playoff positions, while Telstar's defeat deepens their relegation worries with little margin for error.

The 90 minutes plus two added minutes offered little in terms of drama after the 60th-minute mark, with Ajax content to manage the result and Telstar left to contemplate a performance that unravelled entirely in the space of twenty minutes. Dennis Higler's whistle marked a comfortable afternoon for the visitors, who now turn their attention to their next fixture with confidence restored.

Steven Berghuis's influence was the defining factor. Beyond his direct involvement in three of the four goals, his positional intelligence allowed Ajax to shift play quickly and exploit the spaces Telstar left behind. His link-up play with Klaassen in the first half set the tone for what followed, and his decision-making in the final third was consistently sharp.

Telstar, despite their best efforts, were ultimately undone by a lack of composure in key moments. The 3-4-2-1 formation, while offering some attacking threat, failed to provide the defensive stability required against a team of Ajax's quality. Their inability to create meaningful chances meant they were always chasing the game, and once the floodgates opened, there was little to stop the visitors from extending their lead.

Looking ahead, Ajax will take encouragement from a performance that showcased both tactical discipline and individual brilliance. Telstar, however, face a critical period in which they must address the defensive lapses and midfield shortcomings that were ruthlessly exposed here. The Eredivisie season is still in its infancy, but results like this serve as a stark reminder of the fine margins that separate the divisions.

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