Groningen 0-1 Ajax: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar sent off after scoring winner

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has now scored 20 goals for Ajax in all competitions this season

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored a late winner and was sent off as Eredivisie leaders Ajax edged to victory at Groningen.

The former Netherlands international broke the deadlock with a clinical finish 12 minutes from time.

But the striker, 35, was dismissed just six minutes later for a second bookable offence.

The win lifts Erik ten Hag's team three points clear of second-placed PSV Eindhoven, who play on Sunday.

Ajax have now scored 156 goals in all competitions this season, an all-time club record in a single campaign.

Huntelaar's goal was his 104th for Ajax in the Eredivisie - one more than Dennis Bergkamp managed for the club between 1986 and 1993.

The four-time European champions face Tottenham in the Champions League semi-finals next month.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

FC Groningen

• 1Padt
• 42Zeefuik
• 4te Wierik
• 24ChabotBooked at 76mins
• 29HandwerkerSubstituted forBrunsat 81'minutes
• 7Doan
• 6ReisBooked at 75mins
• 5MemisevicBooked at 73mins
• 8Bel HassaniSubstituted forEl Hankouriat 68'minutes
• 19GladonBooked at 28mins
• 9Sierhuis

Substitutes

• 11Pohl
• 12Kramer
• 14El Hankouri
• 15Bruns
• 16Begois
• 17Itakura
• 20Absalem
• 23Hrustic
• 31Hoekstra
• 36van de Looi
• 58van Kaam

Ajax

• 24Onana
• 3VeltmanBooked at 73mins
• 4de Ligt
• 17Blind
• 31Tagliafico
• 20SchöneSubstituted forHuntelaarat 59'minutesBooked at 84mins
• 6van de Beek
• 21de Jong
• 22ZiyechSubstituted forKristensenat 90'minutes
• 10Tadic
• 7NeresSubstituted forDolbergat 77'minutes

Substitutes

• 2Kristensen
• 8Sinkgraven
• 9Huntelaar
• 16Magallán
• 19Labyad
• 25Dolberg
• 26Lamprou
• 28Semedo Varela
• 30de Wit
• 40Ekkelenkamp

Referee:

Dennis Higler

Attendance:

22,288

Match Stats

Home TeamFC GroningenAway TeamAjax

Possession

Home39%

Away61%

Shots

Home12

Away16

Shots on Target

Home2

Away5

Corners

Home4

Away6

Fouls

Home12

Away7

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, FC Groningen 0, Ajax 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+6'

Second Half ends, FC Groningen 0, Ajax 1.

Posted at 90'+1'

Attempt blocked. Paul Gladon (FC Groningen) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Substitution

Posted at 90'

Substitution, Ajax. Rasmus Kristensen replaces Hakim Ziyech.

Posted at 87'

Attempt missed. Kaj Sierhuis (FC Groningen) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is too high. Assisted by Jeffrey Chabot.

Posted at 86'

Attempt saved. Paul Gladon (FC Groningen) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Deyovaisio Zeefuik with a cross.

Posted at 85'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 85'

Delay in match Samir Memisevic (FC Groningen) because of an injury.

Dismissal

Posted at 84'

Second yellow card to Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax) for a bad foul.

Posted at 84'

Foul by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax).

Posted at 84'

Samir Memisevic (FC Groningen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 83'

Attempt missed. Kaj Sierhuis (FC Groningen) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Ritsu Doan.

Substitution

Posted at 81'

Substitution, FC Groningen. Thomas Bruns replaces Tim Handwerker.

Booking

Posted at 79'

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.

Goal!

Posted at 78'

Goal! FC Groningen 0, Ajax 1. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner.

Posted at 77'

Attempt missed. Hakim Ziyech (Ajax) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner from a direct free kick.

Substitution

Posted at 77'

Substitution, Ajax. Kasper Dolberg replaces David Neres.

Booking

Posted at 76'

Jeffrey Chabot (FC Groningen) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 76'

Dusan Tadic (Ajax) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 76'

Foul by Jeffrey Chabot (FC Groningen).

Booking

Posted at 75'

Ludovit Reis (FC Groningen) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 75'

Nicolás Tagliafico (Ajax) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 75'

Foul by Ludovit Reis (FC Groningen).

Booking

Posted at 73'

Joël Veltman (Ajax) is shown the yellow card.

Booking

Posted at 73'

Samir Memisevic (FC Groningen) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 73'

Joël Veltman (Ajax) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 73'

Foul by Samir Memisevic (FC Groningen).

Posted at 72'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 71'

Delay in match Mike te Wierik (FC Groningen) because of an injury.

Posted at 70'

Foul by Dusan Tadic (Ajax).

Posted at 70'

Ritsu Doan (FC Groningen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 69'

Foul by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax).

Posted at 69'

Samir Memisevic (FC Groningen) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Substitution

Posted at 68'

Substitution, FC Groningen. Mo El Hankouri replaces Iliass Bel Hassani.

Posted at 66'

Corner, Ajax. Conceded by Tim Handwerker.

Posted at 65'

Attempt blocked. Nicolás Tagliafico (Ajax) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Joël Veltman.

Posted at 65'

Attempt blocked. Hakim Ziyech (Ajax) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Dusan Tadic.

Posted at 63'

Offside, Ajax. Hakim Ziyech tries a through ball, but Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is caught offside.

Posted at 62'

Hand ball by Ludovit Reis (FC Groningen).

Posted at 61'

Attempt missed. Hakim Ziyech (Ajax) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Dusan Tadic.

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