The Amsterdam club were held to a 1-1 draw at home to NEC Nijmegen that kept them five points adrift of league leaders PSV Eindhoven.

Egyptian striker Mido, making his first start of the season, opened the scoring in the 76th minute with a far-post header after a pinpoint cross from lively Serbian winger Miralem Sulejmani.

Ajax's joy was short-lived though as Bram Nuytinck brought NEC level two minutes later with a right-footed volley from inside the area.

"If you want to be champion, you have to win these games," Mido was quoted as saying by Dutch media.

"You have to win the match when you get around the 80th minute leading 1-0.

"But the ball fell twice in our 16-yard box and they (NEC) eventually scored a simple goal."

Mido joined Ajax on a season-long loan from English second-division side Middlesbrough in the close season.

He faced fitness and weight problems in the early stages of the season but was finally given a spot in Ajax's starting line-up after Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez was handed a seven-match ban for biting the shoulder of PSV midfielder Otman Bakkal.

The 27-year-old has scored twice in the league and once in the Dutch Cup since his summer arrival.