Ajax again won a late victory in the absolute final phase on Friday evening. After that succeeded on Sunday against RKC Waalwijk (3-2), Erik ten Hag’s team also succeeded against SC Cambuur. Ryan Gravenberch beautifully fired into the winning team from a great distance, after Ajax gave up a two-goal lead, just like against RKC. On Tuesday, Ajax will play at home against Benfica in the Champions League return.
Striking at Ajax was that Nicolás Tagliafico played as center defender to replace the suspended Lisandro Martínez. Daley Blind therefore remained drafted as left back, normally Tagliafico’s regular spot. Noussair Mazraoui returned as right back instead of Devyne Rensch, while Perr Schuurs remained central in the back despite the goals against RKC Waalwijk (3-2). Davy Klaassen played as a defensive midfielder replacing the sick Edson Álvarez. Cambuur received bad news this week, when it turned out that trainer Henk de Jong will no longer be on the bench this season due to health problems. Substitute coach Pascal Boseloos, assistant to the sick Henk de Jong,
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Ajax started full of energy and scored the first goal within three minutes. Ryan Gravenberch intercepted it in the half of Cambuur and gave high to Dusan Tadic, who tapped in at the far post: 0-1. Sébastien Haller could have made it 0-2 after fifteen minutes, but the free header was not used by the striker. Cambuur striker Tom Boere escaped red after a hard kick to Tagliafico’s lower leg. Allard Lindhout was called to the side by the VAR, after which the referee decided to yellow.
Ajax combined on the other side to create a huge opportunity for Klaassen, who shot at an opponent on Blind’s pass. Another nice attack resulted in a low cross from Steven Berghuis, which was slid over by Haller. Five minutes before half time, Haller did finish his third chance. Ryan Gravenberch was able to pass after another sparkling attack, after which Haller checked closely, turned away and finished: 0-2. Cambuur had one good chance between the first and the second goal: Tom Boere seemed to break through, but was unable to aim well under pressure from Schuurs.
Cambuur had little to say, but the Frisians had regained their faith in a result within three minutes of the break. A dangerous corner kick ended up in a pinball machine of Ajax defenders, after which the alert Issa Kallon was able to give the last push: 1-2. The good game from the first half was hard to find with the team from Amsterdam, who were saved in the 75th minute by André Onana. The keeper tried to turn a completely free header from Mitchel Paulissen.
Twelve minutes from time there was no stopping it for Onana, who saw Tagliafico give a dramatic back pass. Paulissen intercepted and placed wide on Patrick Joosten, who scored: 2-2. Ten Hag brought the recovered Brian Brobbey into the field to force a winning goal. Haller and Antony lashed out threateningly in the final phase, but both encountered a block. This was followed by a gigantic head chance for Brobbey, who could not surprise Pieter Bos, but Gravenberch succeeded. The midfielder made a great hit from a great distance through the inside of the post: 2-3.