FC Utrecht shock Ajax with 4-0 hammering; PSV can reduce the deficit to six points

FC Utrecht brought some excitement back to the Eredivisie title race while keeping their Champions League hopes alive with a shock 4-0 win over Ajax. The goals were scored by Miguel Rodriguez (2), former Ajax striker Sebastien Haller, and Paxten Aaronson.

Ajax are still top of the table after their third league defeat of the season. PSV, who did not play this weekend, can reduce the deficit at the top of the table to six points against FC Twente on Thursday evening.

Both teams will then play four more times before the end of the season. FC Utrecht got themselves level on points with Feyenoord in the battle for third place, which guarantees a Champions League qualifying spot. Feyenoord face PEC Zwolle on Friday.

FC Utrecht have a history of having a lot of passion and fight in their home matches against Ajax. However, the team’s manager, Ron Jans, decided to have his team play in a different way this time. The team dropped deep into their own half and waited patiently for a chance to counter attack.

Ajax started the game quite well but did not have many significant chances to score. Despite this, Utrecht was lucky not to concede on two occasions in the first half. Jorrel Hato hit the post in the third minute, and Brian Brobbey saw his effort from the rebound come back off the crossbar.

FC Utrecht only needed one chance to take the lead. Sebastien Haller responded sharply to a cross from Siebe Horemans in the 29th minute to make it 1-0. The striker did not celebrate the goal against his former team, but the fans in the Galgenwaard did.

While Utrecht were playing a waiting game in the first half, they overran the visitors after halftime. Rodriguez compounded the issues for Ajax in the 53rd minute. He won a duel over Hato and saw his shot go in via the inside of the post. The referee, Bas Nijhuis, did not award the goal initially, but his linesman then flagged to say that the ball had crossed the line.

Ajax manager Francesco Farioli responded quickly to the second goal and brought on two attackers, Wout Weghorst and Bertrand Traore. But it was Rodriguez who scored again in the 63rd minute and decided the game.

This led to Farioli subbing off some of the team’s most important players Kenneth Taylor and Hato. This was likely to save them for the matches to come. Aaronson added to the joy in the Galgenwaard with a fourth goal.