Utrecht edges Ajax with 96th-minute winner to dim Champions League prospects

Ajax required a victory above all else on Sunday, as the Amsterdam outfit lagged behind NEC in a fierce contest among three sides for third position in the Eredivisie. The home team lined up with Oscar Gloukh from the outset, alongside Kasper Dolberg, who sidelined Wout Weghorst to the reserves.

Following an early opportunity squandered by Youri Regeer, the initial 20 minutes offered scant excitement until Ajax generated a promising opening, yet Kasper Dolberg failed to connect with a low delivery from Anton Gaaei by mere inches, extending his barren run since January.

Oscar Gloukh then tested Vasilis Barkas' net, but the Greek keeper thwarted him within the penalty area.

Ajax dominated the closing 20 minutes of the first period, although the team had nothing to celebrate on the scoresheet, Mika Godts struck the upright with a precise effort, only for Youri Regeer to sky the follow-up over an unguarded target.

Ajax's conditioning woes appeared to resurface, as FC Utrecht accelerated after the hour mark while Ajax faltered against the away side, slipping perilously close to fifth in the standings during that stretch.

Drama unfolds late for weary Ajax

The clock ticked down relentlessly for Ajax, who, mirroring their season-long pattern, faltered badly after the break and produced not a single opportunity post-interval.

The mid-game breakdown left Ajax reeling with ten minutes remaining, allowing Gjivai Zechiël space to deliver a cross spanning Ajax's goalmouth, where Niklas Vesterlund netted a vital strike bolstering Utrecht's promotion push and undermining Ajax's Champions League aspirations.

Substitutes sparked Ajax's leveller, with Rayane Bounida's curling corner met by Wout Weghorst, who rifled it into the upper corner, igniting the Johan Cruyff ArenA once more.

Mika Godts and Rayane Bounida pushed forward in the dying moments for Ajax, but ex-Ajax centre-back Mike van der Hoorn plunged the arena into despair via a decisive header just ten seconds shy of the final whistle.

FC Utrecht stunned Ajax with a 2-1 triumph in the 96th minute, clinching a playoff berth for UEFA Conference League action. Ajax meanwhile tumbled to fifth, now three points adrift of FC Twente, suggesting that even a success at Heerenveen next week may fall short of restoring their path to the UEFA Champions League.