The adventure in the UEFA Youth League came to an end for Ajax Under 18 on Tuesday afternoon. After half an hour of playing at Sportpark de Toekomst, the team of interim coach John Heitinga still led 2-0, but nevertheless they left the field in Amsterdam with a 2-3 defeat. Heitinga was in the dug-out because Dave Vos recently opted for an employment with Rangers. The loss means that the young Ajax players will no longer play in a European context after the winter break.
The start of Ajax Under 18 was still promising. Christian Rasmussen was knocked down in the penalty area after more than twenty minutes of play, so that the ball landed on the dot. Amourricho van Axel Dongen then impeccably opened the score for the home team from eleven meters. Van Axel Dongen, who played as a wing attacker against Sporting, doubled Ajax Under 18’s lead a few minutes later, when he took full advantage of poor goalkeeping on the Portuguese side after a measured cross from Eskild Dall. Heitinga’s formation seemed to be sitting on roses with this, but the opposite turned out to be true.
Drama. Game over… Our @UEFAYouthLeague adventure ends here.#UYL #ajaspo pic.twitter.com/Lwb0BSxUMg
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) December 7, 2021
In the first half Ajax Under-18 wasted two more big opportunities to finally close the match. Shortly before the halftime signal, the tension returned with a goal by Sporting midfielder Mateus Fernandes, who was accurate with a long shot. The home team was also active after the break and Raphaël Sarfo, among others, failed in a promising position. In the final phase of the fascinating duel at De Toekomst, things went completely wrong for Ajax Under 18.
In the 71st minute, Yousseff Chermiti cleverly took advantage of the space offered to him by the Ajax defense and the attacker can thus process a cross from the left into a goal. Sporting’s comeback was complete with three minutes left on the clock. Defender Chico Lamba, who had come up, headed home from a turning cross, to the delight of everyone and everyone among the visitors. Ajax Under 18 had the lead, but eventually finished in third place in the UEFA Youth League, with ten points. Just as much as Borussia Dortmund, but the Germans, 6-2 too strong for Besiktas on Tuesday, have a better mutual result. Sporting eventually finishes at the top of the group with eleven points.