Ajax opened strongly in an empty stadium, recalling the terrible Covid era when matches were played with no spectators. Steven Bergwijn and Mohammed Kudus both had opportunities, but they just bumped into goalkeeper Peter Leeuwenburgh along the way. Meanwhile, Dusan Tadic had put Ajax in front from the penalty spot. His penalty kick went in no problem. They just couldn't break out from there, however. Which gave the home team the chance to draw level with the field. Krüger had an open shot at goal. Rulli just couldn't deflect the ball: 1-1.
Things got a lot messier after half time. Ajax did take the lead again when Brobbey dribbled the ball in, in the 68th minute. But Groningen, already relegated, weren't going to give up easily. When Jurriën Timber made it 3-1 in the 81st minute, that seemed to be the deciding goal.
But that was not yet the case. Ajax watched as a pass to Duarte three minutes before the official final whistle let him score the best goal of the afternoon and put some excitement back into play: 3-2. In extra time, victory was no longer in question.
FC Groningen - Ajax 2-3 (1-1)
18. Tadic (pen.) 0-1
38. Krüger 1-1
68. Brobbey 1-2
81. Timber 1-3
87. Duarte 2-3
Ajax: Rulli; Rensch, Timber, Hato, Wijndal (69. Klaassen); Álvarez, Taylor, Bergwijn; Kudus, Brobbey (86. Godts), Tadic
