Ajax stunned by last-gasp Utrecht winner as Twente take control of third place
Ajax were beaten with a last-minute goal by FC Utrecht on Sunday. Former Ajax defender Mike van de Hoorn headed home in the final seconds to secure a 2-1 win for Ron Jans’ side in the Johan Cruijff Arena. It was a perfect day for FC Twente in the battle for third place; they beat Sparta and also saw NEC lose in Groningen. Feyenoord confirmed their direct Champions League spot with a 1-1 draw against AZ.
All the games were played at the same time, as it was the second-to-last game of the season. Twente almost struck first after 10 minutes when a corner was headed across to Sam Lammers from a corner, and he smashed a volley against the crossbar.
They also hit the bar a little later when a great piece of skill from Lammers led to a chance for Thomas van den Belt, whose overhead kick hit the upright.
Ajax also should have taken the lead in the 35th minute. Mika Godts hit the post with a shot, which led to the rebound for Youri Regeer. All the midfielder had to do was get the attempt on target into the vacant net, but he hit it far over.
All three sides seemed like they were on their way to a 0-0 scoreline at halftime, but this proved not to be the case in the Euroborg in Groningen, where the home side took the lead right before halftime. A cross from Younes Taha was headed into the net by Marco Rente.
Groningen made it 2-0 in the 51st minute. A counterattack led to Taha playing a pass to Tygo Land, whose shot was deflected into the NEC goal by Bram Nuytinck.
Twente broke the deadlock in the 58th minute. A cross from Bart van Rooij was knocked into the goal by Van den Belt. This was followed by a second goal for the midfielder a minute later to send the Grolsch Veste into ecstasy. Mats Rots battled through the Sparta defence with the ball falling to Van den Belt, who placed it into the goal convincingly.
John van den Brom’s side got another in the 71st minute to make it 3-0. Van Rooij got his second assist of the game with his cross finding Kristian Hlynsson for an open goal.
Around this time, NEC scored a goal back in Groningen. A corner from Sami Ouaissa was headed into the goal by Darko Nejasmic to make it 2-1.
In Amsterdam, Utrecht took the lead in the Johan Cruijff ArenA. Feyenoord loanee Gijval Zechiel created the goal, dribbling past Sean Steur and then Davy Klaassen before putting in a terrific cross for Niklas Vesterlund to head home.
Utrecht’s lead did not last long. Within three minutes, the home side had leveled after a corner from Rayane Bounida was side-footed into the net by Wout Weghorst.
But this all led to a dramatic final corner for Ron Jans’ side. The dead ball was swung in by Souffian El Karouani to Van den Hoorn, who nodded it into the net.
Going into the final day, Twente are currently in third place with a two-point lead on NEC and a three-point lead over Ajax. The Amsterdammers travel to Heerenveen next week, with Twente playing away at the league champions PSV. NEC hosts Go Ahead Eagles.
Feyenoord confirmed second place with a 1-1 draw against AZ. Robin van Persie’s side made the worst possible start when a misplaced pass by Gernot Trauner led to AZ taking the lead in the first minute of the game. The chance had been chipped into the goal by Troy Parrott after Jordy Clasie played him in.
Feyenoord should have made it 1-1 in the 37th minute. Oussama Targhelline played a great pass through to Anis Hadj Moussa, but after controlling the ball right in front of the goal, the winger hit the shot at the head of the goalkeeper, Rome-Jayden Owusu Oduro.
Hadj Moussa got his goal in the 53rd minute in a similar situation. This time Tobias van den Elshout played a fantastic pass into the Algerian’s path, and he converted to level the score.
