Two goals in three minutes from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar helped move Ajax within touching distance of Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven with a 3-0 victory over struggling Heracles Almelo.
Wesley Sneijder gave Henk ten Cate's side an early lead before fellow Holland international Huntelaar took centre stage with two typical predatory strikes in the second half.
The Amsterdammers now lie just three points behind Ronald Koeman's PSV Eindhoven after their stuttering title defence suffered another setback in Saturday's 1-1 draw at NAC Breda.
Almelo, meanwhile, sunk further into trouble after the defeat - coupled with Excelsior's 3-1 win over ADO Den Haag - plunged them into the relegation play-off places.
Nonetheless it was Ruud Brood's side who had carved the game's first opening when Rob Maas's 15-yard effort was palmed away by Ajax goalkeeper Martin Stekelenburg.
But the home side fought back and opened the scoring with their first real chance, Sneijder curling a delightful free-kick over the Heracles wall into the top-left corner after Marnix Smit had felled Huntelaar just outside the box.
Ajax could have doubled the advantage seven minutes later when Huntelaar hit a well struck shot from the right of the penalty box which Heracles goalkeeper Martin Pieckenhagen smartly saved.
Maas tried his luck again for the visitors, this time from long range in the 34th minute, but his effort flew inches over the crossbar.
It was one-way traffic in the second half as Huntelaar netted his first in the 50th minute, firing home from inside the six-yard box after Ryan Babel cut back Tom de Mul's cross to the back post.
And only two minutes later Heracles defender Eddy Bosnar was made to pay after being caught in possession. Sneijder raced clear down the left flank before cutting the ball back to Huntelaar, who made no took from close range.
A minute from full time Edgar Manucharyan had a chance to add a fourth but the Armenian striker somehow skewed his shot over the crossbar.
The only sour note for the home side was an injury to veteran defender Jaap Stam which forced the former AC Milan centre-back off the field in injury time.
The Amsterdammers now lie just three points behind Ronald Koeman's PSV Eindhoven after their stuttering title defence suffered another setback in Saturday's 1-1 draw at NAC Breda.
Almelo, meanwhile, sunk further into trouble after the defeat - coupled with Excelsior's 3-1 win over ADO Den Haag - plunged them into the relegation play-off places.
Nonetheless it was Ruud Brood's side who had carved the game's first opening when Rob Maas's 15-yard effort was palmed away by Ajax goalkeeper Martin Stekelenburg.
But the home side fought back and opened the scoring with their first real chance, Sneijder curling a delightful free-kick over the Heracles wall into the top-left corner after Marnix Smit had felled Huntelaar just outside the box.
Ajax could have doubled the advantage seven minutes later when Huntelaar hit a well struck shot from the right of the penalty box which Heracles goalkeeper Martin Pieckenhagen smartly saved.
Maas tried his luck again for the visitors, this time from long range in the 34th minute, but his effort flew inches over the crossbar.
It was one-way traffic in the second half as Huntelaar netted his first in the 50th minute, firing home from inside the six-yard box after Ryan Babel cut back Tom de Mul's cross to the back post.
And only two minutes later Heracles defender Eddy Bosnar was made to pay after being caught in possession. Sneijder raced clear down the left flank before cutting the ball back to Huntelaar, who made no took from close range.
A minute from full time Edgar Manucharyan had a chance to add a fourth but the Armenian striker somehow skewed his shot over the crossbar.
The only sour note for the home side was an injury to veteran defender Jaap Stam which forced the former AC Milan centre-back off the field in injury time.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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