FC Groningen loses 3-1 to Ajax in the Johan Cruijff ArenA. After falling behind, the Groningen team managed to fight back, but just before the final whistle Ajax shot two balls into the Groningen goal. After a hard fight, the green and white returned home without any points.
The team from Amsterdam had a severely depleted team due to various injuries, but Dick Lukkien had to leave a number of Groningen players at home. Marvin Peersman and Brynjólfur Willumsson are still serving their suspension after red cards against SC Heerenveen and Luciano Valente was forced to start on the bench due to a concussion he suffered against Go Ahead Eagles. Thijmen Blokzijl replaced Peersman at center back, while Rui Mendes took over Valente’s role in midfield. The bright spot was Marco Rente, who was able to start again after weeks of recovering from a hamstring injury.
Klaassen puts the FC behind
FC Groningen starts the match well. With two shots and a balanced distribution of ball possession, the Groningen team got through the first fifteen minutes well. Until, after a long-running attack, Ajax managed to find Brian Brobbey, who managed to get the ball to Davy Klaassen while falling. The midfielder can easily push the ball past Etienne Vaassen and Ajax takes the lead.
It seems that the home team turns the football machine into high gear after the goal. Although it seems to take more effort, the FC can still keep up. Ajax regularly appears in the penalty area of the green and white, but does not capitalize on the opportunities. Partly thanks to a number of Groningen feet and the responsiveness of Vaessen, who managed to block a dangerous shot from Brobbey with his left leg, the difference remained only one goal until half-time.
Schreuders silences the ArenA
Ajax starts the second half brightly, but neither Brobbey nor Kenneth Taylor can get the ball between the posts. Then out of nowhere a long ball is played to Jorg Schreuders who rushes towards Remko Pasveer’s goal. The defense tries to clear the ball, but Schreuders knows how to time it well and gets his foot in the air against the ball. The shot flies past Pasveer and the FC comes to the same level.
Vaessen not afraid of penalties
Shortly after the equalizer, Ajax appears in front of Vaessen’s goal. After a foul by Blokzijl on Chuba Akpom, referee Lindhout points to the penalty spot. Branco van den Boomen stands behind the ball, while Vaessen jumps on his line. The Groningen goalkeeper chooses the right angle and stops the bet.
The FC was almost there
With this, the FC almost does something that has not been possible since 2007: taking a point from the ArenA. This seems to be true until the 90th minute. Just when the assistant announces the extra minutes, Wout Weghorst, who has just entered the field, heads the ball flawlessly behind Vaessen.
It doesn’t stop there. The game resumes and it is not FC Groningen, but Ajax that launches a final offensive. Akpom is the final destination and manages to put his name on the score sheet just before the final whistle.
The match ends 3-1 and FC Groningen does not get any points from the last three matches. The next match is on Sunday, October 20 (2:30 PM) at home against FC Utrecht.
