There were eight changes to the Ajax line-up compared to the full-on UEFA cup evening against Panathinaikos, where victory eventually came from a tantalising penalty shootout. Bertrand Traoré and Brian Brobbey featured in the opening line-up for the first time this season.
Brobbey had a great opportunity in the second minute. A long kick was played forward by Branco van den Boomen and ended up with Brobbey. The striker used his body well, but failed to shoot past the near post. The rest of the first half was uneventful. Ajax failed to find their rhythm against NAC, who were strong on defence and left little space.
NAC took the lead 56 minutes into the game, when Ajax lost the ball and put up a poor defence against a set piece from NAC. Matthew Garbett then shot it home. Fortunately, Ajax responded swiftly: Jorrel Hato headed into the net just seven minutes later, from a corner from Steven Berghuis: 1-1.
Ajax hoped they could push through, but it was not to be. In fact, Ajax lost in the end. Van den Bergh headed a free kick in past the far post: 2-1.
NAC - Ajax 2-1 (0-0)
58. Garbett 1-0
63. Hato 1-1
90+1. Van den Bergh 2-1
Ajax: Pasveer, Gaaei, Šutalo, Janse, Hato, Mannsverk, Hlynsson (56. Fitz-Jim), Van den Boomen (56. Taylor), Traoré (56. Berghuis), Brobbey (66. Akpom), Godts (76. Bergwijn)
