Red-hot Chuba Akpom nets brace as Ajax secure second successive win

Ajax forward Chuba Akpom came off the bench and scored twice to help his side claim a 3-1 win over SC Heerenveen and move up to 11th in Eredivisie.

Having secured a crucial win over FC Volendam during the week, Ajax were looking to build a head of steam in their league.

Captain Steven Bergwijn was the catalyst for his side at the Johan Cruyff Arena, and he opened that scoring for them after 25 minutes.

The Dutch giants doubled their advantage three minutes before half-time through striker Brian Brobbey, giving his side a healthy lead.

Heerenveen were not backing down without a fight, and Luuk Brouwers scored his third goal of the season in added time to halve the deficit heading into the break.

With neither side managing a goal in the second half, Ajax manager John Van’t Schip turned to Akpom, introducing him off the bench in the 73rd minute in place of Kristin Hlynsson.

Akpom restored his side’s two-goal cushion in the 84th minute with an instinctive header from inside the box after Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert parried a shot into his path.

The former Middlesbrough man doubled his tally and sealed the win for his side in the 92nd minute after another brilliant instinctive finish, this time with his left foot off a pass from Steven Berghuis.

The former Arsenal youngster has hit form at the right time, with the Super Eagles set to assemble later this month for their FIFA World Cup qualifiers.