14 DEC 2023; Ajax - AEK; Europa Group Match 6

[Orange14]

Simply put, Ajax need a win to stay in Thursday night football dropping down to the Conference League play off

[souras84]

How many years since we won such a "do or die" game?

[Orange14]

How many years since we won such a "do or die" game?

2019! Ajax won both 2nd ties against Real Madrid and Juventus in the CL

[Amol]

Both Berghuis (suspended) and Bergwijn (injured) are out for this one. Brobbey however is fit enough to play.

I suppose we will start with Forbs on the left, Hlynsson at AM and a problem to solve at RW. Banel played there as a sub for the past 2 games, but not sure if he can start and play the whole game. Gaaei might be an option. I don't know what Mikautadze can do to be honest. He's definitely not a winger.

[Ayman]

How many years since we won such a "do or die" game?

Actually you have to go back to season 1996/97 where Ajax had a must win in Switzerland vs Zurich Grasshoppers in the champions league group stages. Patrick Kluivert scored the winner 0-1 and did what he was best at, saving his club and country at his time. It was his trademark.
Ajax had won twice against Glasgow Rangers, lost once and won once against Auxerre and had previously lost to Grasshoppers at home 0-1.

[Tom_]

I am more worried about the defense. Ajax have conceded 12 goals in 5 games so far. I can see AEK sneaking a goal and then hanging on for 1-0 or 1-1.

[SPL]

Reports suggest Sosa at LB ,Akpom as a no 10 with Forbs on the left wing and Hlynsson as a hanging RW.Only other fit attackers Banel and Mikautadze. Martha of course could play on the wing as that was his position until earlier this season

[SPL]

Sosa,Forbs and Akpom for Bergwijn ,Berghuis and Martha. Dont think our lineup will be good enough to win the game.AEK are not a weak side. Subs bench is poor,S-Eddine can be used in MF,Martha as a winger .No MF subs, just Mikautadze and Banel are attackers.

Only Bergwijn and Berghuis are missing from what would be our strongest lineup and many fans think these 2 are not good enough and should be sold.

[Orange14]

Ajax ladies play a solid match in Munich and come away with a point at 1-1. Hope the men are up to it today.

[Orange14]

Some times Taylor looks like the best MF in football.

[Orange14]

2-1 at the half from an excellent goal by Taylor off the pass from Hato. Hato is such an amazing player, two great challenges in the box to break up possible goal scoring opportunities. We need about four more goals before I will feel comfortable!!!!

[SPL]

A great win and Akpom must wonder how he did not score 5 but 2 was enough.A fine performance by a young side and good to see Gooijer come on. They all worked hard for each other and getting through will be a big boost for the club and we fans. A long season still ahead but its good that we have a real Ajax man in charge and he believes in youth.

Hato needs to have that new contract agreed , he cannot sign a long extension before March when he is 18 but he is pure quality and destined for the top.

[Orange14]

European football is still in the picture for 2024 as Ajax defeat AEK 3-1 courtesy of a great Kenneth Taylor (my MOTM) goal and two from AKbom (who should have probably had 1-2 more). Defense was up to the task giving up just the one goal off a free kick. Lots of young players ended up on the pitch by the end of the match and all acquitted themselves well.

Player Ratings:

Ramaj (7) - mainly routine saves but his long kicking was spotty
Rensch (7) - solid match at both ends until he had to come off after a collision with Ramaj
Sutalo (7.5) - best match of the season for me, playing with a cool head
Cal Ripken (American Baseball iron man who played every inning of every game for a lot of seasons) aka Hato (8) - only the reckless challenge that resulted in a YC marred the outstanding match
Sosa (7) - actually defended much to my astonishment
Tahirovic (6) - gets this mark only because of his play in the final 20 minutes when he was good; still too many turnovers and weak passes
Taylor (8) - played like a man possessed at both ends, great goal for the match winner and some outstanding passing
Hlynsson (6) - worked tirelessly pressing AEK players when ever they were close by
Akbom (6.5) - yes, strikers want to score but he had options on two of the three breakaways when he continued on to shoot and truth be told his 2nd goal should have been saved
Brobbey (6) - worked hard in the half he played
Forbs (6) - needs to watch some game tapes of David Neres to see when you should NOT continue on with the attack
Martha (6.5) - excellent half of football playing on the wing, great assist to Akbom on the 3rd goal and tracked back very well
Gaaei (6) - did enough defending down the stretch
Goojier (5.5) - on for Rensch who had to be subbed off; played well and was free for an AKbom pass that never came
Mikautadze (NR) - on late

PEC Zwolle up on Sunday for the last league match of the season and then the first Beker game mid week before the winter break. Kudos to Van't Schip!!!!

[Tom_]

Some times Taylor looks like the best MF in football.

When there are no defenders near him! I agree he had a good game today but AEK left a huge amount of room in front of their back line. His only other good match this season was against Vitesse who were 18th at the time.

Anyway a relatively easy win from a very sloppy match, and we get at least one more round of European games next year.

[saddlerian]

A good win, even though still "relegated"..but a win's a win! Also, great to see someone regularly criticised, especially by me, have a really good game..giving 110%...well done Mr Taylor .
Let's take the confidence of this win into the league.. Conference League being the minimum target....but, you never know