Ajax Champions League Victory: Edvardsen’s Late Goal Keeps Qualification Hopes Alive
Ajax managed a vital 1-2 victory against Villarreal in the Champions League, courtesy of a late strike from substitute Oliver Edvardsen. This win, though hard-fought, keeps a glimmer of hope alive for the Dutch side to advance to the knockout stages of the competition. After seven matches, Ajax sits with six points, placing them 31st in the standings.
With one game remaining, they trail the 24th spot – which guarantees a place in the intermediate round – by just two points. However, Ajax currently possesses the worst goal difference among all teams still in contention: -12. The team’s performance in the UEFA Champions League has been inconsistent this season.
A Difficult Path to Qualification
Next Wednesday, Olympiakos will visit Amsterdam. A win, preferably by a significant margin, coupled with favorable results elsewhere, could see Ajax progress to the next round. However, the road to qualification remains steep.
For much of the match, a positive result seemed unlikely. Ajax has struggled with vulnerability, particularly on challenging pitches like the one in Spain. Their only convincing Champions League performance this season came against Qarabag (2-4 in early December). Even against a Villarreal side seemingly prioritizing other commitments, Ajax struggled to assert dominance.
Villarreal’s Rotations and Ajax’s Lineup
The Spanish side, currently third in La Liga, rested several key players, including former Ajax player Georges Mikautadze, with an eye towards their crucial league match against Real Madrid this coming Saturday. Midfielder Pape Gueye was also unavailable, still recovering after winning the Africa Cup of Nations final with Senegal.
Ajax coach Fred Grim opted for Aaron Bouwman at center-back over Josip Sutalo and Ko Itakura. Jorthy Mokio and Oscar Gloukh were also given starting positions.
Jaros Shines, Edvardsen Delivers
The first half was largely defined by the performance of goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros. The Czech shot-stopper kept Ajax in the game with several impressive saves, denying Sergi Cardona and Nicolas Pépé. Owen Wijndal had Ajax’s first significant chance, but his low shot was saved by Arnau Tenas. Kasper Dolberg missed a clear opportunity to connect with Wijndal’s cross. Mokio also tested Tenas with a shot.
Second-Half Drama and a Winning Goal
Early in the second half, Villarreal took the lead through Tani Oluwaseyi (1-0) after Bouwman misjudged a long ball. Against the run of play, Ajax equalized when Gloukh curled a free-kick into the net from a difficult angle (1-1). Gloukh nearly scored again shortly after, but couldn’t get a good connection on a clever cross from Anton Gaaei.
In the 90th minute, Edvardsen, who had replaced Gloukh, scored the winning goal with an assist from Gaaei, rewarding Ajax’s improved performance in the latter stages of the match. This victory sets up a crucial final match against Olympiakos.
Olympiakos Challenge and Group Standings
Olympiakos defeated Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 on Tuesday and are level on points (8) with PSV, who face Newcastle United tomorrow and still have a realistic chance of qualifying. The pressure is on Ajax to deliver a strong performance and hope for favorable results elsewhere to keep their Champions League dream alive.
Source: UEFA Champions League Official Website
