Kenneth Taylor scores dramatic 94th minute winner for Ajax against arch-rivals Feyenoord
Ajax took a huge step in the Eredivisie title race on Sunday by beating arch-rivals Feyenoord after a dramatic winning goal from Kenneth Taylor deep into injury time made it 2-1. The Amsterdammers are now two points behind league leaders PSV with a game in hand.
It was a match that, although it did not have the quality of Klassiekers gone by, was high on drama. Wout Weghorst missed a penalty to give Ajax the lead after Quinten Timber had scored for Feyenoord in his first game back after a long time out through injury.
Francesco Farioli went for experience in his midfield, replacing Kian Fitz-Jim, who scored a terrific goal in the team’s 2-1 win against Galatasaray on Thursday, with Davy Klaassen. Former Feyenoord player Steven Berghuis started on the left wing against his former club as Chuba Akpom is close to finalizing a loan deal to OSC Lille in France.
Jordan Henderson was the team captain again. Farioli confirmed before the match that the issues regarding the midfielder’s preference to join AS Monaco have now been resolved, and he is set to stay.
Jakub Moder made his debut for Feyenoord in midfield. He joined the club from English club Brighton in January. Ayase Ueda started in the striker position, replacing Santiago Gimenez, who is set to join AC Milan.
It was a dull first half, which was to be expected considering both teams have not shown consistent high-quality attacking play this season, but a goal was scored in the first half.
Jorrel Hato dribbled past his opponent before playing the ball to Berghuis on the wing. His cross was touched by goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther but went through to Brian Brobbey. The striker bundled the ball home, but it was initially ruled offside. However, a VAR check showed that this was the wrong decision, and Brobbey was awarded his second goal of the season.
Quinten Timber came back into the Feyenoord side after months out through injury, and the captain made an instant impact. Just seconds after he had tested the Ajax goalkeeper Remko Pasveer from distance, he received the ball in the box and calmly dragged it to his left foot before finding the net via the post to make it 1-1.
Ajax were awarded a penalty in the 72nd minute. Kian Fitz-Jim spun away in the midfield before playing a pass in the path of Wout Weghorst, who was taken down by David Hancko, the Feyenoord defender who was having an uncharacteristically poor match. Weghorst decided to take the penalty himself and saw his effort saved by Wellenreuther.
This almost proved costly as Timber was continuing to affect the game for Feyenoord. The midfielder played a deft pass through to Aniss Hadj Moussa, but the winger’s finish was below par and saved by Pasveer.
The match was incredibly tense now as Ajax created another chance. Youri Regeer almost got an assist in his first match back for the club when his cross found Christian Rasmussen, who was whistled by the Ajax fans when he came on, but the winger headed it onto the post.
Rasmussen had another chance to silence the doubters in the 87th minute. Weghorst headed the ball onto the young winger, who carried it toward the goal before shooting straight at Wellenreuther.
It seemed like the chance had come and gone for Ajax before they scored a goal that will live long in the memory. Anton Gaaei came forward from the right-back position and played an inch-perfect pass to Taylor, who had timed his run to perfection, and the midfielder made no mistake with the finish, sending the crowd in the Johan Cruijff ArenA into bedlam.
