Michael Bradley and Heerenveen came knocking on the Ajax door on Halloween, but it was no treat as the Amsterdam hosts came away with a 3-1 victory to advance to the last 16 of the KNVB Cup.

The US midfielder had an active 90 minutes of work, scoring the away team's lone goal with a fine strike and picking up a late shirt tug yellow card.

Ajax wasted little time jumping out front as Johnny Heitinga got to the end of an eighth minute free kick to bag the opener.

The Frisians started coming into the game as the midway point of the period approached. Bradley ran onto a chance to fire from 20 meters in the 18th minute, but shot straight at Ajax keeper Dennis Gentenaar.

A minute later, the American got in the way of a Gerald Sibon attempt, inadvertently deflecting it out for a goal kick. Shortly thereafter, Afonso Alves saw his low drive turned away by Gentenaar.

The hosts doubled their advantage near the half hour when Hedwiges Maduro nodded home an Alberto Luque restart from the doorstep.

Heerenveen made a couple of offensive changes at the break, but it would not change their luck. Ajax sub Dennis Rommedahl ran free on the breakout to tee up Klaas-Jan Huntelaar for an easy third past the hour.

In the 72nd minute, Bradley cut into the lead by impressively depositing a Roy Beerens layoff into the inside side netting from above the area.

It wouldn't get any closer, however, leaving the Blue White Vikings with a long trip back home. Heerenveen return to league play when tabletop PSV Eindhoven come calling on Saturday night.

Scoring
AJAX - Johnny Heitinga (Klaas-Jan Huntelaar) 8'
AJAX - Hedwiges Maduro (Alberto Luque) 28'
AJAX - Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Dennis Rommedahl) 67'
HEER - Michael Bradley (Roy Beerens) 72'

Line-ups
AJAX - Dennis Gentenaar; George Orgararu, Johnny Heitinga, Gregory van der Wiel, Jan Vertonghen, Gabri, Hedwiges Maduro, Siem de Jong (Robbert Schilder 78'), Alberto Luque (Kennedy Bakircioglu 71'), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Luis Suarez (Dennis Rommedahl 60')