Jordan Henderson`s bid for the Eredivisie title is in jeopardy after Ajax`s significant late collapse. The Dutch football giants had victory against Groningen dramatically taken away in the 99th minute.
Ajax initially led thanks to Anton Gaaei, but Thom van Bergen equalised for the opposition in the second half. Wout Weghorst, formerly of Manchester United and Burnley, must have believed his 68th-minute goal had secured a crucial three points. However, it was the ten-man home side that scored a devastating equaliser through Thijmen Blokzijl in the final moments of injury time.
This result drops Ajax to second place, now just one point behind their title rivals PSV.
Henderson and his teammates were the clear favorites to clinch their 37th league title with only five matches remaining. Ajax required only six points from these games to secure the championship. Yet, their form faltered significantly, including defeats to Utrecht and NEC, and draws with NEC and Groningen leading up to the season`s last match.
Peter Bosz`s team, PSV, capitalized fully on Ajax`s poor results, overturning a nine-point deficit by winning their last six games.
Consequently, with just one match left, the Eredivisie title is now PSV`s to lose.
PSV will play against 11th-placed Sparta Rotterdam while Ajax faces FC Twente. For Ajax to win the title, they must secure a victory and hope PSV drops points, given Ajax`s considerably inferior goal difference.
Following Blokzijl`s last-second goal, fans on social media expressed shock at Ajax`s sudden decline in form. One user commented, expressing disbelief at Ajax squandering a 9-point lead in just four matches. Another user declared that Ajax had “bottled” the title, wondering about the situation in the Netherlands league. A third compared the collapse to “choking,” a term used for failing under pressure. A fourth user simply questioned how Ajax managed to lose their commanding position. Another fan dramatically described their shock, saying their “head would be on Pluto” due to the unexpected turn of events.
Footage from the PSV match showed their supporters and coaching staff anxiously awaiting the result of the Ajax game. Many looked stressed, anticipating an Ajax win, but were instantly overjoyed upon hearing about the late equaliser.
After being defeated 2-0 by Ajax on March 30, PSV, now the favorites, previously had only a one percent chance of winning the league title. Before last night`s dramatic events, data analysts Opta saw the title race as almost equal, giving Ajax a slight edge with a 50.1 percent chance. PSV, in contrast, had a 49.9 percent chance of overtaking Ajax. Following the latest results, this probability has shifted dramatically in PSV`s favor, who now possess an 81.2 percent chance of becoming champions.
Despite this setback, the title race isn`t completely decided, and Ajax manager Francesco Farioli remains defiant. He stated it`s difficult to comment immediately after conceding a goal in the final minute. Farioli added that the season isn`t finished, with one more game left, urging his team to fight on. He acknowledged his team gave their best but admitted it wasn`t sufficient, while also reminding everyone that “football teaches us that anything can happen.”
The 34-year-old Henderson joined Ajax in January 2024, having previously played for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq. He has since been made captain but has not yet won any silverware with Ajax.
How the League Standings Changed
Ajax`s recent poor form has significantly impacted the league table:
Eredivisie table on April 27:
1. Ajax – 74 pts (+40 GD)
2. PSV – 67 pts (+55 GD)
Eredivisie table on May 15:
1. PSV – 76 pts (+62 GD)
2. Ajax – 75 pts (+33 GD)
