Hello everyone! Goedemiddag!
My name is Miguel Villafuerte and I will take you through live coverage of the action today between Ajax and Sparta Rotterdam at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam. The home side are looking to produce a positive result and take one step closer towards wrapping up their first Eredivisie title since 2022 while Sparta are hoping to continue their six match unbeaten run and claim their fourth consecutive victory, which would be their first win in the Dutch capital since 1989, after flirting with the relegation zone for much of the first half of the season.
1′ And we’re off here at the Johan Cruijff ArenA.
5′ Both sides just feeling each other out in the first five minutes. Perhaps easing their way in to cater for a crowd recovering from all the King’s weekend festivities in Holland the past few days.
Embed from Getty Images15′ Great slide tackle by Sparta’s Gjivai Zechiel in the box preventing Bertrand Traore from getting a clean shot attempt away.
26′ Ajax have dominated possession in the first 26 minutes enjoying 72.1% possession as per ESPN Netherlands. They have also had five shots to Sparta’s one but none of their chances have led to a goal as of yet.
31′ Opportunities for Sparta to take the lead as Mitchell van Bergen had his shot saved by Matheus while Shunsuke Mito’s strike from the left side goes wide.
37′ Ajax get a free kick which leads to a chance for Traore from close range however he slices the ball well over the bar.
Embed from Getty Images39′ Mito with great play down the left side however his cross goes just behind Zechiel, who had to reach for the ball with his left foot but couldn’t geta clean hold of it.
45+1 On the shadows of halftime, Sparta launch a counter attack which ends in another opportunity for Mito however Matheus makes himself big to block the shot. Another chance for Sparta on the break but the first half ultimately ends goalless at the Johan Cruijff ArenA.
46′ Play has now resumed for the second half here at Johan Cruijff ArenA after a goalless first half where majority of possession was with Ajax but it was Sparta who had the clearer opportunities, with Maurice Steijn’s squad looking dangerous on the counter attack but not finishing.
53′ Sparta get a free kick and an opportunity falls to the feet of Tobias Lauritsen but his shot in the box was blocked by the Ajax defence.
63′ Substitute Wout Weghorst gets his head to the ball from an Ajax corner however he could not find the target. Weghorst nearly providing the immediate impact Francesco Farioli was hoping for when he brough him on as a target man up front for his playmakers.
67′ Now it is Sparta’s turn to try and mix things up as they bring on two substitutes in Mohamed Nassoh and Carel Eiting.
68′ Ajax captain Davy Klaasen with a good effort from another corner but his acrobatic bicycle kick goes wide. Ajax piling on more pressure on Sparta’s defence with four corners in the last few minutes as they look to grab the game and take full control of it with just over 20 minutes remaining.
Embed from Getty Images71′ Again, Weghorst makes his presence felt since entering the game with another header. He was even closer to scoring on this occasion too, this time hitting the crossbar.
78′ Oh! Ajax comes oh so close once again this time through Kenneth Taylor whose shot looked like it was going to roll into the back of the net but instead hits the post. This is the second time this half de Godenzoden have hit the woodwork. Can they go on and score a winner with just over ten minutes left?
Embed from Getty Images83′ Unfortunate news for Sparta as Zechiel leaves the field due to injury. Joel Ideho comes on from the bench to take his place and has a chance to be a late hero here for Sparta.
90+3′ And for the third and fourth time in this half, Ajax have hit the woodwork! Substitute Youri Reeger is the latest unlucky Ajax player to do so.
90+5′ SPARTA GOAL!!! It looks like Sparta have stolen victory from the jaws of defeat! After a mistake from Matheus picking up a back pass, Nassoh converts the free kick. 1-0 to Sparta in stoppage time.
90+7′ But wait…GOAL!!! Ajax hit back and equalise literally immediately. After coming on before stoppage time, Regeer saves the day for Ajax who finally get a goal for all their domination in the second stanza. Still a few minutes left in the match! We may not be done yet!
Final: And we are done! It ends 1-1 here at the Johan Cruijff ArenA after a frantic finish with two very late stoppage time goals for Sparta and Ajax.
Thank you for joining me here today as I brought the live action between Ajax and Sparta to you as best I can. With Ajax dropping points, will this result prove to be a slight opening and a glimmer of hope for PSV Eindhoven in the title race? Ajax could have gone ahead of PSV by nine points with three matches to go but instead they head into their match against NEC next week with a seven point advantage over PSV, who still have four matches left and play Fortuna Sittard up next.
Goodbye and until next time!
