While Mido was kept on the bench for the whole game, the Dutch champions received their second defeat of the season at the Amsterdam Arena.

A first-half strike from Wesley Verhoek was enough to inflict the damage for the mid-table Den Haag.

Ajax remain third on 27 points, four behind leaders Twente.

Second-placed PSV Eindhoven, who also have 27 points, have a good chance to go clear when they play at Utrecht later.