Ajax continued its dismal performance after being held at home to a 2-2 draw by FC Twente on Thursday night, failing to overtake PSV Eindhoven and securing the No.3 spot in the Dutch first division (Eredivisie) table.

 

In Amsterdam, Ajax was desperately fighting for a win after being humiliated by lowly rated Excelsior of Rotterdam last weekend.

 

Everything went in the hosts' way as their striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar opened the score in the 32nd minute. At the 61st minute, Stein Huysegems' goal put the two teams on level terms. However, 15 minutes later, Huntelaar made it double to regain Ajax' lead.

 

A victory was seemingly on board as the final whistle was about to blow. But Congolese-born Swiss striker Blaise N'Kufo ruined the Ajax party with his lethal shot two minutes into the injury time.

 

With the draw, Ajax stay at 3rd place in the Eredivisie table with 32 points, one point behind PSV, which suffered a shock defeat at Groningen on Wednesday. Feyenoord are on top with 35 points.

 

In other actions on Thursday, Utrecht whipped Excelsior 4-1, NAC Breda lost to Vitesse 2-1, Roda beat Heerenveen, and Heracles defeated Willem II.

 

Groningen, the conquerors of PSV, are currently in 4th place on the table, followed by Heerenveen, Twente, Roda and Utrecht.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 28, 2007)