Hello everyone, my name is Jackson Denney. I am writing to you live from the press box at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam for today’s action in the Eredivisie between Ajax and Sparta Rotterdam. It’s match week 31 and Ajax are in pole position to secure their record 37th league title sitting six points above PSV. Despite their success this season they head into today off the back of a 4-0 loss away to Utrecht. They face an in-form Sparta who have won four and drawn 2 in their last six matches in the league.
1′: We are underway at the Johan Cruyff Arena!
5′ A quiet opening 5 minutes here in Amsterdam, but Sparta manage to win their first corner of the match. However, nothing comes of it.
7′ Ajax is starting to settle in now. They play a pair of dangerous balls into the six-yard box, but fail to capitalize.
15′ Ajax play a low cross into Bertrand Traoré inside the box, but Sparta’s Gjivai Zechiel makes a diving tackle to block his effort. A key moment for the visitors early on in the first half. Though Ajax are looking more threatening by the minute.
Embed from Getty Images21′ Sparta are struggling to find an outlet and pose any real threat. Ajax looks comfortable. The hosts already have five shots, one target, while limiting Sparta to one shot, none on target.
30′ Sparta finally produces their first chance of the match. Mitchell van Bergen has a shot from inside the box on the right-hand side. His effort hits off an Ajax defender and forces a crucial save from the keeper at the near post.
31′ Sparta find themselves through on goal for the second time in two minutes. This time it is Shunsuke Mito whose shot fizzes wide of the near post.
36′ Ajax play a dangerous ball in from a free kick. The ball pinballs around the six-yard box and finally lands at Traore’s feet, but he blasts it over the crossbar. However, the offside flag is raised.
39′ Another chance for the visitors as Mito dribbles down the left flank, beating his man, but the cross that follows is put just behind Zechiel, who can’t catch a clean strike as the ball.
45′ Mito continues to look threatening but can’t quite get the finishing touch right. He finds himself through on goal again at the stroke of half-time with just the keeper to beat, but hits it right at him with a disappointing effort. Despite Ajax’s dominance on the ball, Sparta have looked the more likely to score and will be disappointed not to be taking a lead into the break. It remains goalless at halftime.
46′ The second half is now underway!
53′ Sparta get their first chance of the second match following a free kick. The ball gets played in and finds Tobias Lauritsen, whose shot is blocked from just inside the six-yard box.
63′ Substitute Wout Weghorst gets his first opportunity to pull his side ahead following a corner. The 6’6 striker finds himself open at the near post but heads it just over the bar. Their best chance of the match so far.
68′ Ajax is now starting to take full control of the match, with the majority of play taking place in and around their box. The latest chance comes from Captain Davy Klaassen following a corner. The Dutchman attempts an acrobatic shot, but it flies just wide of the far post.
71′ Following yet another corner, it is the substitute Weghorst with another chance. This time, his header crashes off the crossbar. Ajax is doing everything right at the moment except for that finishing touch. It remains 0-0 with roughly 20 minutes to go.
Embed from Getty Images78′ The ball just refuses to find the back of the net for Ajax so far today, after another shot finds the woodwork instead of the goal. The hosts cut straight through the Sparta defense as Jorrel Hato plays an incisive ball into Kenneth Taylor at the edge of the box. Taylor slots his shot towards the far post, but it nicks the post.
86′ As we head into the closing stages, both sides will feel that they should have at least one goal on the board. It has been a story of missed opportunities today at the Johan Cruyff Arena. In the first half, it was Sparta; now the roles have been reversed here in the second half. It looks like one goal would likely be the decider. Ajax will be desperate to get the winner with the title on the line.
90′ The fourth official has decided that eight minutes will be added on.
93′ Ajax are denied twice more by the woodwork in the space of a minute. It just won’t happen for them this afternoon. The second chance sees Weghorst fire a left-footed shot high into the center of the goal but it finds a Sparta head and then ricochets off the crossbar.
Embed from Getty Images95′ GOAL Sparta! Mohamed Nassoh gives his side the unlikely three points at the death directly from a free kick! His shot flies past the Ajax keeper and into the top right corner.
97′ GOAL Ajax! Just two minutes later, the league leaders respond! Youri Regeer finally gets the goal his side has deserved in the dying embers. His shot finds the bottom left corner to save his team from what would have been a disastrous afternoon.
Thank you for tuning in to today’s matchday vlog. It was a wild one here in Amsterdam with all of the chaos being left until the very end in added time. Ajax moves one point closer to another league title, but will feel disappointed not being able to collect all three points after hitting the woodwork 4 times over the course of the 90+8. They may now have to wait until the final match week before they can claim the trophy. Sparta continue their fine form and unbeaten run in the league.
