Ajax throw away their advantage in the dying moments, losing Eredivisie top spot ahead of final matchday

Ajax’s winless streak has now stretched to four matches after FC Groningen stole a late equaliser, handing PSV the top position in the Eredivisie.

At the beginning of April, Ajax boasted a nine-point advantage, but that lead has shrunk to a single point following a 4-0 defeat to FC Utrecht, a 1-1 draw with Sparta Rotterdam, and a disappointing 3-0 loss at home to NEC Nijmegen.

Manager Francesco Farioli adopted a different strategy for the encounter against FC Groningen, making four changes to the starting XI. Brian Brobbey, Mika Godts, Kian Fitz-Jim, and Jorthy Mokio were selected to start in place of Wout Weghorst, Steven Berghuis, Player of the Year contender Davy Klaassen, and Daniele Rugani.

The Amsterdam outfit showcased their characteristic defensive solidity, limiting FC Groningen to few chances and primarily forcing them to attempt shots from long range.

The first significant opportunity of the match fell to former Chelsea and Aston Villa player Bertrand Traore, who found himself in space after an accurate long ball from Jordan Henderson but failed to beat Etienne Vaessen with a low shot.

About 30 minutes into the match, the returning Brian Brobbey made a vital contribution, holding up play brilliantly to enable Danish right-back Anton Gaaei to advance and unleash a powerful strike towards Vaessen’s near post, opening the scoring.

Another goal for Ajax seemed imminent just before the half-time whistle, but Mika Godts struggled to control his header and couldn’t direct it to a teammate in blue. Just before the break, Groningen’s Stije Resink sent a shot soaring over Remko Pasveer’s goal, and referee Jeroen Manschot ended a first half marred by fouls.

FC Groningen came alive following the break when youth international Thom van Bergen took advantage of Jorrel Hato’s positioning to slot the ball expertly past Pasveer, bringing the game level.

Ajax struggled to find their rhythm at the start of the second half, prompting Farioli to make four substitutions within the first twenty minutes.

Two of these substitutions proved pivotal when Steven Berghuis, who had replaced Bertrand Traore just minutes earlier, delivered a delicate cross into the box for Wout Weghorst, who had come on for Brian Brobbey and deftly tapped it in to regain a crucial 2-1 lead for Ajax.

In-form midfielder Luciano Valente gave Ajax’s defence serious trouble on multiple occasions, even testing them with a thunderous shot that struck the post.

Late drama

There was a roar from the visiting supporters as Steven Berghuis believed he had secured a 3-1 advantage for Ajax, only to be flagged for offside.

As six minutes of added time began, tensions flared following a reckless challenge from Luciano Valente on Jordan Henderson, which led to Valente receiving a straight red card.

In a dramatic finish to the crucial Eredivisie fixture, FC Groningen earned a free kick in the 98th minute. Mats Seuntjens’ delivery was met by Thijmen Blokzijl, who headed home the equaliser in the 100th minute.

Substitute Owen Wijndal nearly clinched a winner with another corner, but his effort narrowly missed Vaessen’s goal. Ajax’s nine-point lead has evaporated, and as they head into the final weekend, they sit in second place. Their only hope to reclaim top spot rests on a potential slip-up from PSV away against Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday.