Ajax deeper in the swamp: Galatasaray torments Amsterdammers in ArenA

With zero points from four matches and a goal difference of -13, bottom Ajax is the laughing stock of Europe for the time being.

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Heitinga made room for Josip Sutalo in the starting line-up, who replaced Ko Itakura, who fell through the ice against SC Heerenveen. Anton Gaaei took the place of Lucas Rosa, while Jorthy Mokio had to forget the suspended Kenneth Taylor and Davy Klaassen’s name was put on the scoresheet instead of Raul Moro. For Mister Ajax 2.0 it was already his eightieth European match in Europe. The previous match, away with Chelsea (5-1), in which he replaced Danny Blind as the record holder in Europe, naturally gave Klaassen mixed feelings.

Youri Regeer as ‘fake right winger’ at Ajax

Because Heitinga (rightly) estimated Galatasaray’s qualities higher than those of his own team, he decided to add a defensive accent. Youri Regeer functioned as a ‘hanging right winger’, but was in fact the fourth midfielder: in possession of the ball in the center and without the ball on the right. Against the leader of Turkey, the well-grouped Ajax showed a heart-warming work ethic, but the quality of the team again turned out to be very poor. In the initial phase, Galatasaray and not Ajax seemed to be playing at home.

The first two attempts at goal were from Okan Buruk’s team. The masked Osimhen showed why in the fourteenth minute Gala paid him 75 million euros last summer, took the ball on his chest, lifted the ball with his foot and fired the ball hard at goal. Remko Pasveer – the schlemiel against SC Heerenveen on Saturday – made a feline save. And the goalkeeper, who turned 42 on Saturday, repeated that trick four minutes later after a header from the Nigerian striker.

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Remko Pasveer keeps the goal clean for the break

As the first half progressed, Heitinga’s team slowly escaped the pressure from the Turkish guests. This was underlined by the ball possession that increased from 29 percent in the first fifteen minutes and 31 percent after twenty minutes before half time to 43 percent. In the 26th minute the spark finally spread to the audience. And after a long possession of the ball and a nice attack, Mokio made the first Amsterdam attempt between the posts. Oscar Gloukh, who started poorly but recovered well, shot just wide.

The home club started the second company with 20-year-old Gerald Alders for Wijndal. The fresh left back was allowed to show himself on the highest European football stage against former Manchester City and FC Bayern Munich player Leroy Sané. Sutalo had to blame himself more for the fact that the German provided the assist to Osimhen in the 59th minute than the young Alders. The Croat had completely lost the striker.

Victor Osimhen scores three times against Ajax

After Youri Baas made hands in the penalty area moments later – just like against Sparta-out – and Osimhen took advantage of the penalty, it was over and over: 0-2. Although Mika Godts was still close to the tying goal. After handball from Alders, Osimhen was allowed to score from eleven meters for the second time: 0-3.

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‘Johnny fuck off’

The hopeless defeat is a new blow for Heitinga, who has to hope that his team will stand up on Sunday in the Galgenwaard stadium against FC Utrecht. Otherwise his position will become even more shaky. During extra time, the crowd said: ‘Johnny, fuck off’. Although not massively, but still.