Ajax had a lot of trouble with Fortuna Sittard in the first half. After the break, substitute Brian Brobbey (with a goal and assist) helped Ajax to the lead. Despite a goal from Burak Yilmaz, he was no longer given away: 2-3.
At the opening of the new Eredivisie season, Remko Pasveer was preferred over Jay Gorter below the bar. He was sacrificed after his costly mistakes against PSV, a week ago. Perr Schuurs replaced the suspended Edson Álvarez. Fortuna Sittard started without the Turkish top striker Burak Yilmaz.
After six minutes Ajax got a cold shower in Sittard. Steven Bergwijn lost the ball, after which Fortuna quickly came out via Arianit Ferati. He sent Paul Gladon away, the striker showed Schuurs his heels and scored behind Pasveer: 1-0.
The goal against the goal changed little in the game: Ajax tried to attack, while the Limburgers defended. Partly because of this, the team from Amsterdam – despite possession of the ball – were unable to create great opportunities. It got no further than a simple shot from Kenneth Taylor.
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Reborn
Ajax seemed reborn in the second half, because it struck twice quickly. The equalizer came in the name of Taylor, after his cross was no longer touched, 1-1. The lead followed not much later: Devyne Rensch scored after a combination with Brian Brobbey, who had also come on.
The goal was first flagged for offside, but after VAR interference, the goal was still approved: 1-2. Brobbey struck mercilessly after 62 minutes from a cross by Dusan Tadic. The goal was checked and remained: 1-3. In the final phase, Bergwijn seemed to score the fourth Ajax goal of the afternoon.
Yilmaz
This goal was rejected by the VAR, so it remained 3-1 for the team from Amsterdam. Substitute Burak Yilmaz struck just before time and brought the tension back: 2-3. The victory was no longer in danger and Ajax returned to Amsterdam with three points.
Ajax setup: feather key; Rensch (Magallan/74), Schuurs (Klaassen/46), Timber, Wijndal; Blind, Taylor, Berghuis (Brobbey/46); Antony, Tadic, Bergwijn (Kudus/90)