Early opening goal
Ajax got off to a good start Wednesday evening in the match againt Vitesse. Tadic broke the spell early on in the game. Steven Bergwijn came in from the left in the sixth minute and perfectly sliced a cross to the Ajax captain, who then had no trouble tapping the ball past Vitesse goalie Reiziger: 1-0.
Vitesse draw level
Shortly after the early opening goal, Ajax saw two great opportunities thanks to Davy Klaassen and Mohammed Kudus. The former missed the ball from close range, while the Ghanaian hit the inside of the post. Halfway through the first half, Vitesse also grabbed their first chance of the match. Manhoef sprinted from deep inside his own half and then shot it into the net to make it 1-1.
Ajax came back from the changing room full of fresh courage. Bergwijn and Kudus had two chances fall into their laps early in the second half, but neither Ajax player could outsmart Reiziger.
Ajax on the back foot
Daley Blind and Berghuis both hit the crossbar during the second half, but the ball just wouldn't go in. On the other hand, Manhoef scored for a second time this match: 2-1. The wing attacker sprinted past the Ajax defence and got it past Pasveer.
Lucca header makes it 2-2
In the closing stage Lucca actually came up trumps. The Italian striker was suddenly a major asset for Ajax, heading into the net from a pass from Blind. Ajax failed to manage a third Amsterdam goal, however, so the Ajax players lost points in their final home fixture of 2022.
Ajax – Vitesse 2-2 (1-1)
6. Tadic 1-0
25. Manhoef 1-1
74. Manhoef 1-2
79. Lucca 2-2
Ajax: Pasveer; Rensch (73. Sánchez), Timber, Bassey, Wijndal (59. Blind); Klaassen (59. Conceição), Taylor, Berghuis; Bergwijn (78. Lucca), Kudus (59. Brobbey), Tadic
