Ajax Amsterdam's Mika Godts shoots at goal against Villarreal during their UEFA Champions League match Estadio de la Ceramica, Madrid, Spain. Ajax won 2-1.
VILLARREAL--Ajax kept their flickering hopes of progress in the Champions League alive with a dramatic late win in rain-soaked Villareal.
Oliver Edvardsen came off the bench to snatch an 89th-minute winner as he tucked away a through ball by Anton Gaaei. The Scandinavian duo have been put up for sale by Ajax as the club looks to boost its coffers in the transfer window.
"This result is good for the team, for the staff and, above all, for the fans, many of whom have supported us all the way here,” commented Ajax head coach Fred Grim. “We now have six points and we must continue to look ahead. The team continues to gain confidence and keep moving forward. I'm happy about that."
An entertaining first half ended goalless, partly thanks to Vitaslav Jaros’ heroics in the Ajax goal as he pulled off fine stops to deny Sergi Cardona and Nicolas Pepe.
The home side took the lead four minutes after the break, as Tani Oluwaseyi beat Aaron Bouwman to a long ball and hit a first-time shot over the flailing Jaros. The match was delayed for five minutes immediately after the goal while a steward received medical attention.
Ajax went on the offensive, knowing only a win would preserve their slender chances of reaching the qualifying stages, and just after the hour they were rewarded when Oskar Gloukh’s free-kick was diverted into the net by a defender’s head.
As the minutes ticked down Gloukh scuffed a chance from close-range, though video replays suggested he may have strayed offside. The striker was replaced with six minutes left by Edvardsen, and it was the Norwegian who provided the heroics with his first shot at goal.
The result leaves Ajax three points behind four clubs above the play-off line, all of whom have a considerably better goal difference, so Fred Grim’s side will need to beat Olympiacos in their final group game in Amsterdam by a convincing margin and hope other results go their way.
Oscar Glouk was named Player of the Match. The UEFA Technical Observer Group said: "He was a constant threat throughout the game with his passing and movement. Very intelligent playing and receiving the ball between the lines caused a lot of problems for Villarreal."
"I always want to see good play translate into points,” added Grim. “We faced a great team and we were able to close ranks and put pressure on them up front, which made things easier for us. We were ambitious, but above all, the tactical plan was important. Knowing how to press."
"Before this match, I wanted to see how my team would react after the weekend. We started very well, with a good 10-15 minutes, with both teams having chances. Our goalkeeper saved us on a few occasions, then we missed a few chances,” said Grim. “In the second half, we conceded a goal, but we knew we could equalise. We did that, and in the end it was a question of who could win, and we scored and deserved it."
