Ajax and Sparta Rotterdam played an unannounced practice match on Wednesday, Sparta confirms via the official channels. Without the absent internationals, Ajax won 3-0 at De Toekomst sports park, after a 2-0 halftime score. Giovanni Manson Ribeiro, Perr Schuurs and Amourricho van Axel Dongen scored on behalf of Ajax.
Giovanni opened the score for Ajax in the sixth minute. In the fortieth minute, Schuurs scored from a cross from Neres, who, according to Sparta’s match report, was the most dangerous Ajax player before half-time, together with Zakaria Labyad. In the second half, Sparta had chances to score the connection goal, for example via Patrick Brouwer, but keeper Calvin Raatsie paid close attention. Fifteen minutes before time, Ajax countered to 3-0; Van Axel Dongen gave the last push.
Players like Ryan Gravenberch, Daley Blind, Devyne Rensch, Davy Klaassen (all the Dutch), Nicolás Tagliafico, Lisandro Martínez (both Argentina), Antony (Brazil), Edson Álvarez (Mexico), Mohamed Daramy (Denmark), Sébastien Haller (Ivory Coast) , Jay Gorter, Kenneth Taylor (both Juniors) and Naci were not there due to international obligations. Steven Berghuis and Jurriën Timber were selected for the the Dutch squad last week, but dropped out due to an injury. Sparta had to do without Mica Pinto, Laurent Jans (both Luxembourg), Mohammed Osman (Syria), Maduka Okoye (Nigeria) and Emanuel Emegha (the Dutch U-19).
Ajax setup: Raatsie; Mazraoui, Schuurs, Musampa, Salah Eddine; Warmerdam, De Waal, Labyad; Neres, Danilo, Giovanni (changes not known).
Setup Sparta Rotterdam: Van Leer, Van Wageningen (Drakpe ’76), Beugelsdijk (Vriends ’45), Heylen (Van Mullem ’76), Meijers (Overman ’76), Abels (Brouwer ’60), Mijnans (Madi ’60), Van Crooij, Thy (Smeets ’45), Gold Mine, English.
Willem II – FC Utrecht
Willem II and FC Utrecht also played a practice match behind closed doors. That match was won by Willem II 2-1. The Tilburg team took the lead after fifteen minutes via Argyris Kampetsis, after which Remco Balk equalized with a hard shot in the intersection. Shortly before the break, John Yeboah determined the final score at 2-1.
Ajax is too strong for Sparta in an exhibition game, 3-0. At halftime it was 2-0, after the break the connecting goal hung in the air for a long time, but fifteen minutes before the end the team from Amsterdam decided the game. #ajaspa
— Sparta Rotterdam (@SpartaRotterdam) Nov 10, 2021