Ajax Climb Eredivisie Courtesy Of Late Weghorst Masterclass

Wout Weghorst Saves Ajax with Injury-Time Heroics Against FC Groningen

Wout Weghorst delivered a last-minute rescue for Ajax, scoring a crucial goal and assisting another in a dramatic 3-1 win over FC Groningen, just before the international break.

In a match that seemed destined to end in frustration for Ajax, Weghorst, who entered the game as a substitute, provided a much-needed spark. His injury-time header gave Ajax the lead, and moments later, he assisted Chuba Akpom to secure a 3-1 victory. This came after a difficult 70 minutes where Ajax struggled to capitalise on their chances and looked set to drop points at home.

Late Substitution, Early Impact

Weghorst was brought on alongside Anton Gaaei with just five minutes remaining. The plan from Ajax coach Francesco Farioli was clear: get the ball into the box for either Weghorst or Akpom to deliver a winner. Five minutes later, the tactic paid off. Gaaei swung a superb cross into the danger area, and Weghorst was perfectly placed to head the ball past Groningen goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen, sending the Ajax fans into raptures.

The atmosphere in the Johan Cruyff Arena remained electric as Weghorst made an immediate impact once again. This time, with only his second touch, he played a precise pass to Akpom, who calmly finished to make it 3-1. Ajax’s coach, Francesco Farioli, was visibly delighted, celebrating on the pitch as the final whistle approached. The Amsterdam club had narrowly avoided a potential upset and secured three vital points.

A Game of Missed Opportunities

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Ajax, who dominated possession but were often wasteful in front of goal. In the 60th minute, Akpom had a golden opportunity to double the lead when he went one-on-one with Vaessen. Instead of passing to Kenneth Taylor, who was free and in a prime position to score, Akpom chose to attempt a lob. His effort was cleared just before crossing the line, leaving Ajax vulnerable.

This gave FC Groningen, who had already seen Ajax’s Brian Brobbey and Bertrand Traoré squander chances, the encouragement they needed to push for an equaliser. Their persistence paid off in the 69th minute, thanks to a defensive error from Josip Sutalo. The Croatian centre-back, who had starred for Ajax in their previous match against Slavia Prague, misjudged a pass, allowing Groningen’s Jorg Schreuders to score and bring the game level at 1-1.

Missed Penalty Adds to the Drama

Ajax’s struggles continued when Marco Rente fouled Akpom in the box, earning the home side a penalty. Branco van den Boomen, who had been flawless from the spot in midweek, stepped up to take it. However, Vaessen guessed correctly, diving to save Van den Boomen’s effort and keeping Groningen in the game. The missed penalty seemed to compound Ajax’s frustrations, as the team failed to regain their composure in the following minutes.

For much of the match, Ajax’s play was uncharacteristically slow, lacking the urgency and precision that saw them triumph against Besiktas in their previous home game. The team struggled to maintain any sustained pressure, giving FC Groningen plenty of opportunities to cause problems on the counterattack.

Key Contributions from Returning Players

Despite the challenging match, Farioli was able to call on key players who had been absent in recent games, including Weghorst and Davy Klaassen. Klaassen, starting his first match since his return to Ajax, made a vital contribution in the first half by heading in a pass from Brobbey to give Ajax an early lead. It was Klaassen’s 26th opening goal for Ajax in his career, second only to Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in the club’s modern era.

However, after Klaassen’s goal, Ajax struggled to create clear chances, and Groningen grew into the game. Mika Godts had an early shot blocked, and Johan Hove came close to equalising for the visitors just before half-time. Ajax were fortunate to enter the break with a 1-0 lead.

Ajax Hold Their Nerve

After the interval, Ajax continued to press but lacked the sharpness needed to extend their lead. Taylor struck the post following a well-worked move, and both Traoré and Brobbey came close to scoring but were unable to convert. Sutalo’s error and Van den Boomen’s missed penalty seemed to sum up Ajax’s night until Weghorst’s late heroics turned the match around.

Weghorst, who had missed recent games due to a minor injury, proved his worth on his return. His impact ensures Ajax remain in contention at the top of the table, despite having played fewer games than their rivals. With crucial fixtures against Feyenoord and PSV on the horizon after the international break, Weghorst’s performance will give Ajax fans confidence heading into a decisive period.

 


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