Ajax Amsterdam’s deep sporting crisis has continued with its first cup exit against an amateur club.
The 20-time cup winner lost 2:3 (0:1) to fourth division team USV Hercules in the second round on Thursday (December 21, 2023). Brian Brobbey and Chuba Akpom equalized a 0-2 deficit late on in Utrecht with their goals in the 83rd and 88th minutes, but in stoppage time Mats Grotenbreg made the sensation perfect with the winning goal for the underdogs.
“Going through a difficult season”
“That should not have happened”said Ajax assistant coach Michael Valkanis after the game. He represented head coach John van ‘t Schip, who is in Australia for his son’s wedding. “We are going through a very difficult season. But we have to keep working and get everything back on track,” Valkanis said.
In the honorary division, Ajax has now improved to fifth place after a historically poor start to the season. The gap to leaders PSV Eindhoven is already 23 points.