Ajax looked to have the advantage in the early stages of the game. Yet Sparta went into the lead thanks to Arno Verschueren. The Belgian sliced through Ahmetcan Kaplan in the penalty area and outwitted Diant Ramaj just inside the far post. Up till that point, Ajax had mainly been threatening down the left wing thanks to Mika Godts, who was making his debut appearance in the starting line-up.
Sparta went 2-0 ahead shortly after the teams came back from half time. Verschueren slipped free of his marker during a free kick and beat Ramaj just past the near post. With a quarter of the match still to go, Akpom headed the ball past Nick Olij to make it 2-1. He had come on for Godts ten minutes earlier.
Ajax then started hunting down the equaliser and their hard work paid off. Just before full time, Bergwijn scored to make it 2-2. In the final closing moments, Ahmetcan Kaplan was handed a red card. He brought down Charles-Andreas Brym as he was making a break.
Sparta - Ajax 2-2 (1-0)
28. Verschueren 1-0
47. Verschueren 2-0
65. Akpom 2-1
88. Bergwijn 2-2
Red card: 90+4. Kaplan (Ajax)
Ajax: Ramaj; Gaaei, Henderson (65. Tahirović), Kaplan, Hato, Taylor; Hlynsson (56. Bergwijn), Mannsverk, Van den Boomen, Godts (56. Akpom); Brobbey (80. Rijkhoff)
