A few weeks ago, Ajax Amsterdam looks like the safe master in the eredivisia. But then the nerve flutter begins. On the penultimate matchday there is a “mother of all mistakes”, as the international press writes stunned.
The fans of the PSV Eindhoven hung spellbound on their smartphones. Her team had fulfilled the duty with a 4-1 win against Heracles Almelo on Wednesday evening, but the game of leader Ajax Amsterdam at FC Groningen was still running.
Ajax led 2: 1, also played after a red card against Groningen’s Luciano Valente (90.+3) in majority when the ninth minute of stoppage time started. There was another free kick for the hosts.
Wout Weghorst shows with Ajax Amsterdam nerves in the title race
The ball sailed out of the half field, keeper Remko Pasveer reached next to it, it became confusing. Then the ball fidgeted on the net! Thijmen Blokzijl was celebrated as a scorer-and the Ajax players were written on the face.
Ajax gives out a master decision
The customer also spread in Eindhoven and triggered great cheers. Through the 2: 2, Ajax crashed from first place on the penultimate matchday of the Eredivisia and has now suddenly gave the decision to the championship at one point behind the competitor PSV.
“The title fight reaches the highlight of the crazy evening,” wrote Voetbal International . Even beyond the Dutch borders, the nerve flutter at the traditional club from Amsterdam hit high waves.
The Daily Mail wrote about “The Mother of All Capitors”, for Spanish sport Ajax “finally got off to hell”. And L’équipe saw “an unexpected gift for PSV” in the last minute compensation.
At the end of March, Eindhoven lost 0-2 in the top game of Ajax. The deficit to the league leader was nine points, the championship seemed decided at an early stage. But the tide has turned in the past few weeks.
“I thought it was over in Groningen, but that wasn’t the case,” said PSV coach Peter Bosz at ESPN . The joy after the late goal for Ajax was all the greater. “Beautiful, really insane”, the former BVB and Leverkusen coach tried to describe his feelings.
“Disappointing”: Next neck strike for Ajax
The mood at the competitor from Amsterdam is completely different. Immediately after the final whistle, the former Bundesliga striker Wout Weghorst – shooter of the interim 2: 1 (68th) – fled into the cabin tract in full sprint, as if he wanted to flee from the disgrace.
Ex-bremer Davy Klaassen was looking for explanations. “Disappointing”, first came over his lips. “It is just disappointing that we no longer have it our hand.”
In the past few weeks, Ajax has had the chance to get a decisive step closer to the 37th championship. But a 0: 4 clap at FC Utrecht on April 20 heralded the unprecedented master flatter.
This was followed by a sobering 1: 1 against Sparta Rotterdam, a 0: 3 home bankruptcy against Nec Nijmegen last Sunday and now the dramatic 2-2 in Groningen.
Ultimate showdown for the championship
However, competitor PSV started a series of six victories in a row after the defeat in the top game at the end of March – and now has the chance to make the title defense perfectly at Sparta Rotterdam (2:30 p.m. in the live ticker). Ajax stands in parallel against Twente Enschede (2.30 p.m. in the live ticker) with his back to the wall.
Coach Francesco Farioli did not yet give up hope of the title. “I said weeks ago that it is not over. It’s not over now,” he said. “There is still a fight. Football has taught us that everything is possible.”
The dramatic Wednesday evening was the best example of this.