FC Utrecht puts Ajax at an even bigger financial disadvantage behind PSV
1 min readAlex Kroes certainly didn't smell like performing miracles in the Johan Cruijff Arena, after which the former technical director of Ajax took the credit for himself. To Jordi Cruijff the credit for saving the furniture in the Johan Cruijff Arena, but where does the son of Johan Cruijff actually begin?
The gap with PSV has effectively widened even further on Sunday afternoon. Ajax can most likely aim for a season with Conference League football, but perhaps also for a season without European football. That latter scenario would be disastrous in terms of the financial—and therefore sporting—gap with PSV.
Ajax saw Sunday afternoon FC Utrecht take the points back to the Domstad. Wout Weghorst seemed to salvage a late point against FC Utrecht for the Amsterdam side, but a powerful header by Mike van der Hoorn gave the visitors three points: 1-2. Ajax drops to a very disappointing fifth place and now faces the prospect of having to play in the play-offs. As a result, the gap with PSV grows ever bigger in every respect.
The tension in the Johan Cruijff Arena has been cutthroat for months, but with the incoming scores from the other pitches, that certainly didn’t get any better. FC Twente pulled away against Sparta, while NEC were trailing FC Groningen. Ajax, however, was barely able to mount a late offensive, and Garcia therefore brought Davy Klaassen and Weghorst onto the pitch for Gloukh and Dolberg. None of it helped. No matter which coach is in charge of this group of players, Ajax continues to perform poorly and sees European football slipping out of sight.
FC Utrecht struck in the closing stages, meaning PSV will effectively go further and further ahead over the Amsterdam club. After the late 0-1, Weghorst made it 1-1, but FC Utrecht could not enjoy that lead for long. From a corner, chaos erupted in the penalty area, after which Weghorst expertly tucked the ball away in the 83rd minute: 1-1. Ajax went in search of the win, but in stoppage time they got the lid put on their hopes: Van der Hoorn headed in completely unmarked in the final seconds from a corner: 1-2.
Comments5
Utrecht scoring first and then finishing it off in stoppage time is harsh. Still, the bigger concern for me is Ajax look like they have no plan when the pressure hits.
PSV fans should be smiling at this, because Ajax dropping to fifth with that kind of performance is massive. The article's spot on about the lack of real pressure in the end. Also, Weghorst scoring and still losing 1-2 is just brutal.
I get that Ajax made changes, but Klaassen and Weghorst coming on should not be able to 'maybe' save you. The article nailed it, they barely had a real late push until it was too late.
Honestly that late collapse is the kind of result that makes the gap with PSV feel even heavier. Ajax had almost nothing going forward, then Utrecht punished them twice from set pieces. If they miss out on Europe again, PSV's financial and sporting advantage just keeps growing.
That 1-2 with Van der Hoorn completely free is exactly the kind of defensive brainfart that kills your season. If Ajax miss out on Europe, PSV really is the one who benefits the most.