Ajax striker Wout Weghorst runs emotionally to the dressing room, while a party is erupting in Eindhoven. Report of a nerve -racking football evening

Ajax striker Wout Weghorst sprint through the player tunnel towards the dressing room. It is around ten o’clock, immediately after the last whistle in the Euroborg. A few minutes before, Weghorst was emotional, after the 2-2 of FC Groningen defender Thijmen Blokzijl in the ninth minute of injury time. He shouted it, after a goal that Ajax probably costs the championship.

A deafening sound sounded in the Euroborg, Ajax coach Francesco Farioli scratched his head. Couldn’t believe it. His team checked the final phase, after 1-2 van Weghorst. FC Groningen seemed to be no longer able to, wasted many powers, played with ten men after the red card of Luciano Valente.

But it went wrong, with a violation by Ajax defender Josip Sutalo. In a dangerous position, diagonally in front of Ajax’s goal. Mats Seuntjens runs the free kick sharply, Groningen goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen is completely with it as extra bumping power, there is a scrimmage, the ball lingers, Blokzijl shoots in. Follow unprecedented scenes in the Euroborg, with ups and downs.

The cool settlement after that chaos: PSV, which defeated Heracles Almelo, takes over the lead with a one point lead and will be champion on Sunday at Sparta. Ajax, which will play at home against FC Twente on Sunday, had nine points ahead of PSV in mid -April. A collapse of this size, with the title that was before grabbing, is rare in Dutch professional football. Ajax only gained two points from the last four duels – of the maximum twelve.

Keep out

Win twice and then wait and see what Ajax does. « It is not that exciting, » PSV coach Peter Bosz told Heracles at ESPN on Wednesday evening shortly before the kick-off. With that approach, he tries to concentrate attention as much as possible. Don’t look at Ajax too much. Keep edge cases away. Play well yourself. Start well.

That is exactly what PSV does. It is particularly bright in the duels, supreme in the field game. PSV conquers high on the field when Heracles builds up. Malik Tillman shoots from a distance, the ball lands through former Ajax player Damon Mirani. A modest fist at Bosz. Shortly afterwards Ismael Saibari scores again from the switch. 2-0 within twenty minutes-the ideal start.

A big contrast with Ajax, which starts roughly. In the run -up to the game against FC Groningen, Faroli had tried to make the mental aspect as small as possible, insignificant, as if it all suggested nothing. Ajax had achieved its goal this season: placement for the Champions League. So his players didn’t have to feel busy, everything that would follow was all extra.

Against FC Groningen, FARIOLI opts for ‘fresh players’ and ‘new impulses’, he says in advance. A new interpretation of the rear, which has often faltered since the injury of left central defender Youri Baas. Initially he tried Ahmetcan Kaplan as a replacement, when he did not like the routinier Daniele Rugani. But it was against NEC (0-3), especially in the structure, extremely weak, sometimes almost distraught in possession. He is now being replaced by Jorrel Hato, the left back, who now sees Jorthy Mokio in his permanent place.

Yet with four new names, Ajax also looks little convincing in the opening phase. It is FC Groningen that regularly comes to the goal with courage, pit and fast combinations. Especially via the center, where the technical midfielder Luciano Valente and Center striker Thom van Bergen often and well combine. Ajax stands out against stark, is static in possession and sloppy in the passing.

The sparing moments that Ajax founds something of danger is through Brian Brobbey, who returns after an injury and displaces Wout Weghorst from the base. He can barely get off the ball with his strong body. It is also through him that Ajax takes a 1-0 lead after half an hour, from an attack that arises from nowhere, and against the relationships. Brobbey puts back on right back Anton Gaaei, who shoots hard.

The entire bank springs up, except Faroli. He welcomes briefly, without laughing, looks like he has just finished a heavy backpack after an endless walking tour. Immediately gestures the Italian to his substitutes and staff. « Sit down, sit down.  » Keep a head, this game is not nearly over yet.

That concern is justified, it appears shortly after the break. Because just as with Ajax something of self -confidence seems to return, things go wrong. A cross from Stijt Resink, the defensive midfielder. At the second post, Van Bergen escaped the cover of Hato and shoots hard. Fright. Panic. Doubt. FariOli will endlessly clap in his hands, as if he is cheeping his players in his head: waking up.

Suddenly cheers in Eindhoven

In Eindhoven, a supporter hesitantly hesitates a cardboard champion scale, at home against Heracles. Gerezemoes can first be heard at the goal of Ajax. But PSV plays stoically. Again Saibari scores, after a nice pass by Joey Veerman. And even before half-time it will be 4-0, when Tillman of about twenty-meter shoots in the top left corner.

Suddenly, cheers sounds in the Philips Stadium, around a quarter past nine: Goal FC Groningen. A single PSV supporter cries with happiness. Many look pressure on their phone. Some bite their nails. Others apparently drink a beer relaxed. When Ajax takes the lead again a little later, it will be quieter.

The cross comes from Ajax striker Steven Berghuis, entered in midfield. He finds the left foot of Wout Weghorst, who fumes the ball past goalkeeper Vaessen. Huge relief. And immediately again concentration with the trainer.

It seems to be an escape again. The energy at Groningen ebt away, the position game has long since made way for long balls towards the forefront. The annoyance grows, there are arguments. After 93 minutes, Groningen gets red, after a hard tackle from Valente on Jordan Henderson.

Turn on the tablet

In Eindhoven, the already exchanged captain Luuk de Jong is watching FC Groningen-Ajax on a tablet on a tablet. Just as everyone is actually more interested what is happening in that game, when PSV-Heracles (4-1) runs towards the end.

Players and spectators will hang on after the final signal, until it is also over in Groningen – that match lasts due to the interruptions longer. But nothing seems to happen anymore. Until players suddenly run away at the tablet. A party bursts loose in the half -empty grandstands.

After 97 minutes and 5 seconds, Marvin Peersman throws in one last time in Groningen, to substitute Seuntjes. He tries to control the head if he is hit by the much too high leg of Josip Sutalo. An awkward action, so late in the game, by such an experienced player. A minute later the equalizer falls. Unbelief can be seen in the branch.

Another minute later it is over. One last corner still gets Ajax, Owen Wijndal shoots wildly. Faroli no longer sees it. Stiff of the nerves, he has turned away from the goal. When he appears in front of the cameras a little later, the trainer, at least in words, is already working on the next game. FC Twente home, Sunday. It is still possible, he keeps repeating.

Because in a competition with so many surprising turns, everything is possible.

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