Substitute Oliver Edvardsen struck in the dying moments to hand Ajax Amsterdam a dramatic 2-1 victory over Villarreal and keep their Champions League hopes alive.
Edvardsen tapped in a precise cutback from marauding fullback Anton Gaael in the 90th minute, completing a remarkable turnaround for the Dutch side.
Ajax, who had lost their opening five group matches, earned a second consecutive win, leaving them with a slim chance of finishing among the top 24.
Their final group fixture will be a crucial home clash against Olympiacos of Greece next week.
Villarreal’s European campaign is over. The Spanish outfit sits second from bottom in the group with just one point, a stark contrast to their strong domestic form, where they occupy third place in La Liga.
The match had initially swung in Villarreal’s favor when Tani Oluwaseyi unleashed a stunning volley to give the hosts the lead in the 49th minute.
But Ajax responded through Oscar Gloukh, whose well-taken free kick levelled the score in the 61st minute before Edvardsen’s late heroics sealed the win.
