The script for an Ajax championship party can still be kept in the fridge for the time being. The team from Amsterdam played a draw against AZ, which came back nicely to 2-1 after falling behind. Edson Álvarez managed to equalize in the final phase with his head: 2-2.
There was a lot at stake for both teams. Ajax would put pressure on PSV in the event of a win, while AZ got the chance to equalize with FC Twente. The competitor for fourth place surprisingly lost 2-1 to Fortuna Sittard on Saturday evening. The team from Amsterdam had a strong opening phase and had opportunities through Brian Brobbey (flagged off for offside after one-on-one with Peter Vindahl) and Nico Tagliafico (headed wide from a corner).
The home team crawled out of the shell after these opportunities, with Jesper Karlsson turning out to be the most dangerous man at AZ. The Swede was able to hit twice, but Maarten Stekelenburg found his way. After a mistake by Sébastien Haller, Jordy Clasie was able to reach Ajax’s goal. His threat was nipped in the bud. Just before half time, Brobbey was still able to cheer after a deep pass from Kenneth Taylor. The attacker didn’t hesitate for a moment and lobbed the ball over the outbound Vindahl: 0-1.
Watch Brobbey’s beautiful goal below:
In the second half Karlsson continued to provide the most danger and the Swede had a big chance after 37 seconds. He dribbled into the goal area, but curled the ball just wide of the Ajax goal. After a pass by Dusan Tadic on Brobbey, the goalscorer got a chance twice in a row. Vindahl was a bummer in both instances. Vangelis Pavlidis was played from a good cross by Karlsson, the striker only produced a roller. That turned out to be a harbinger for AZ, because a few minutes later the Greek was able to cheer. Wijndal gave the assist and Pavlidis headed in behind Stekelenburg: 1-1.
Brobbey was substituted after seventy minutes after an injury. Mohamed Daramy was his replacement. The attacker saw from the side that Hakon Evjen gave the Alkmaarders the lead. The Norwegian was completely free from a Karlsson cross and shot the equalizer in hard: 2-1. In the counterpunch, Haller was able to equalize again, but his effort bounced over the AZ goal. Just before time, Edson Álvarez leveled Ajax again with a header goal: 2-2. Despite a final offensive by the team from Amsterdam, the score remained unchanged.
Due to the draw, PSV can get one point from Ajax, provided it beats Feyenoord. The championship of the team from Amsterdam can therefore no longer be achieved today.
AZ setup: Vindahl; Sugawara, Hatzidiakos, Martins Indi, Wijndal; Midtsjø, Clasie, De Wit; Evjen (Reijnders/88), Pavlidis (Aboukhlal/94), Karlsson
Ajax setup: Stekelenburg; Rensch (Mazraoui/66), Timber, Blind, Tagliafico; Álvarez, Klaassen, Taylor (Berghuis/66), Tadic; Brobbey (Daramy/70), Haller
Don’t want to miss anything from NH Sport?