The afternoon had started well in the Johan Cruyff ArenA. Former Ajax player Edson Álvarez was saying his farewells to the home crowd. The Mexican transferred to West Ham United in summer 2023 and was welcomed with warm applause upon his temporary return to Amsterdam.
Took credit for the goal
The former Ajax player saw his old team take the lead in under ten minutes, courtesy of Brian Brobbey. He deflected a shot from Jaydon Banel making his debut appearance, so took credit for the goal. The first half was nothing to write home about.
An hour in, and NEC's goal did not exactly come from nowhere. The visitors could sense there was something to be had in Amsterdam. They needed Ajax's help though. Jorrel Hato slipped the ball into his own goal.
With some ten minutes of play left, substitute Carlos Forbs had the stadium cheering. Although Ajax were not playing well, victory still seemed to be in the bag. González made it 2-2 in the 95th minute.
Ajax - NEC 2-2 (1-0)
07. Brobbey 1-0
61. Hato (o.g.) 1-1
79. Forbs 2-1
90+5. Gonzalez 2-1
Ajax: Ramaj; Gooijer, Šutalo, Rensch, Hato; Henderson, Tahirović (65. Van den Boomen), Taylor (65. Martha), Hlynsson, Brobbey (90+1. Rijkhoff), Banel (57. Forbs)
