Ajax continue wobble with 1-1 draw at home to Sparta; PSV can reduce gap to four points

Sparta Rotterdam have done their part to make the Eredivisie title race exciting again. Maurice Steijn’s team drew 1-1 with a poorly performing Ajax side on Sunday. This comes a week after Ajax suffered a severe 4-0 loss to FC Utrecht. PSV can reduce the gap to four points in the home match against Fortuna Sittard on Saturday.

Mohamed Nassoh thought he had won the game for Sparta with a dramatic 95th-minute goal after Ajax goalkeeper Matheus picked up a back pass with his hands. However, substitute Youri Regeer equalized a minute later.

After next weekend, Ajax and PSV will have played the same number of games and will play three more. Ajax will play two matches at home against NEC and FC Twente and will travel to FC Groningen. Feyenoord, Heracles, and Sparta are PSV’s last three opponents.

Ajax were so disappointed during the game that the fans in the Johan Cruijff Arena booed them repeatedly. The team had a lot of possession, but they were too slow and clumsy on the ball to trouble the Sparta defense.

Francesco Farioli’s team could consider themselves fortunate to go into halftime with a 0-0 scoreline as Sparta missed three big opportunities to break the deadlock. Matheus reacted well to shots from Mitchell van Bergen and Sunsuke Mito. The Japanese forward also hit one shot, which went just wide of the goal.

Ajax was not able to get Brian Brobbey into the game. The striker was once again given the nod over Wout Weghorst, who has helped the team as a substitute on several occasions this season.

The Italian manager demoted Mika Godts to the bench after several disappointing performances. The Belgian had to make way for Oliver Edvardsen. Jordan Henderson missed the game through suspension. Daniele Rugani was preferred to Ahmetcan Kaplan to replace the injured Youri Baas in defence.

Sparta only started to struggle in the game when Weghorst came on for Brobbey. Ajax finally started to create some danger with the experienced striker in the side. But Weghorst hit the crossbar, Kenneth Taylor hit the post, and Regeer also hit the bar.

Nassoh struck for Sparta after Weghorst had headed the ball onto the bar. Regeer still managed to save a point for Ajax a minute later in the Johan Cruijff ArenA, where Steijn returned to face his former side as Sparta manager. He was sacked from the club 18 months ago after winning just one of his last seven league matches.