Ajax finish 2024 with a 0-2 win against Sparta Rotterdam
Ajax won their last match of 2024 on Sunday. The Amsterdammers beat Sparta Rotterdam 0-2 in the Sparta Stadion. A penalty from Kenneth Taylor and a nice finish from Bertrand Traore led the Amsterdammers to the win.
Ajax manager Francesco Farioli made some questionable decisions regarding his line-up for the match. Defender Josip Sutalo was fit again after suffering from the flu, but the Italian manager opted for Daniel Rugani. Ajax played the first half in a 3-5-2 formation, with Chuba Akpom and Anton Gaaei keeping the width.
This resulted in a first half that was severely devoid of quality from both teams. Sparta, currently managed by former Ajax manager Maurice Steijn, looked like a team devoid of confidence after their poor first six months of the season, which has them in 16th place. Ajax seemed to be struggling with the formation.
This led to a first half with very few chances. Ajax came closest to a goal in the 27th minute when Akpom played a through ball to Jorrel Hato, his cross found Gaaei, but his sliding effort went wide of the goal.
Farioli made some changes in the second half, bringing on two genuine wingers in Mika Godts and Bertrand Traore. This did not seem to have the desired effect early into the second half as Sparta came into the game more.
But the match was turned on its head in the 74th minute. Midfielder Kenneth Taylor came close to breaking the deadlock when his header was saved by Nick Olij before the next attack, which led to Farioli’s side being awarded a penalty.
Taylor played a pass on to Hato, who had come forward and he was fouled by Saïd Bakari. Taylor took the penalty himself and scored, sending Olij the wrong way.
The game was put to bed by Traore in the 87th minute. A long ball was chipped into the feet of Brian Brobbey and his layoff found its way to Traore. The Burkina Faso winger curled the ball beautifully into the far corner to complete the victory for the Amsterdammers.
Ajax will now go into the winter break in second place. They have a three-point gap over third-place FC Utrecht, who play Fortuna Sittard later on Sunday. They are currently three points behind the league leaders PSV, who face Feyenoord on Sunday.
