Heracles vs. Ajax: A Display of Goals and Gaffes
Ah, Sunday afternoons! A time for leisure, a time for laughter… and a time for watching a bunch of grown men chase a ball around a pitch while trying their best to avoid defending! This weekend, Heracles hosted Ajax in what turned out to be a thrilling confrontation—at least for anyone with a sense of humor and a penchant for the unpredictable.
Now, let’s get right into it: Mario Engels decided to put on an absolute masterclass of audacity, scoring a spectacular goal from his own half! Yes, you read that right! From his own half! It’s as if he thought, “Why simply kick the ball forward when I can have the entire world on the edge of their seats?” This German midfielder, fresh from Tokyo Verdy, clearly doesn’t believe in the concept of field boundaries!
𝗪𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗱𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹!
Mario Engels from his own half🤯
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) (October 20, 2024)
And to think: the shot had about as much finesse as a toddler playing with their first pair of football boots.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, mate! The fun began when Luka Kulenovic opened the scoring for Heracles with a nifty little goal, and the cheers must’ve echoed like a pub after a classic karaoke night! But like all great stories, it didn’t take long for Ajax to respond, proving they were not there just for the snacks. Davy Klaassen equalized just 13 minutes later, showing that Ajax was still in the game—or at least still in the cafĂ©… er, the crowd.
After Engels’ jaw-dropping moment, the Ajax defenders must’ve been scrambling to find their dignity—like a cat who’s just realized it’s fallen off the roof! But lo and behold, the lead didn’t stick around for too long, because in minute 34, Bertrand TraorĂ© scored his own equalizer. Honestly, it was like watching a game of ping-pong—if the table were on fire, and the paddles were replaced by forked sticks!
So here we are, witnessing a topsy-turvy affair where the lead changes hands like a hot potato at a summer picnic. And Ajax? They can now say they dodged a bullet—but let’s be real, they also look like they’ve not been reading the club’s motivational posters about teamwork.
In the end, the match concluded at a respectable 2-2, which, considering Ajax’s need to win to stay in the race for supremacy against PSV, surely would have them contemplating a bit of extra cardio in the coming weeks. Maybe Coach should remind them that defending isn’t just a fun thing to do when you’re hanging out at a barbecue!
So, if you missed this match, make sure to catch the highlights. If nothing else, you’ll get to see Mario Engels’ worldie—because let’s face it: in football, it’s those glorious moments of madness that keep us coming back for more!
On Sunday afternoon, Heracles hosted Ajax in the Dutch Eredivisie. Mario Engels scored a great goal from his own half.
On Sunday, Heracles played against Ajax. Ajax had to win to avoid losing touch with the top. The Ajax players are already at a considerable distance from leader PSV. The latter won 1-2 against AZ on Saturday.
The scoring was opened by Heracles. Luka Kulenovic scored the 1-0 goal. That lead did not last long as just 13 minutes later Davy Klaassen scored the equalizer.
Then Mario Engels’ moment had arrived. The German midfielder immediately kicked a bad pass from Sutalo towards the goal. Engels was in his own half when he shot the ball into the goal over Remko Pasveer.
A great goal by Engels who explicitly celebrated with the supporters. The 30-year-old midfielder came over for free from Japanese side Tokyo Verdy from the Japanese J.League last season.
𝗪𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗱𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹!
Mario Engels from his own half🤯
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) October 20, 2024
The lead again did not last long because in minute 34 Bertrand Traoré scored the equalizer. The attacker from Burkina Faso put the 2-2 halftime score on the board.
