NEC Nijmegen pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win over Ajax on Sunday, marking their first-ever triumph in Amsterdam in 44 attempts, while the Eredivisie title race took another dramatic twist.
Earlier in the day, PSV Eindhoven edged Feyenoord with a 100th-minute winner, piling pressure on Ajax just before kick-off.
With that victory, PSV narrowed the gap to just a single point behind the league leaders, instantly dashing any hopes Ajax had of an early championship celebration.
Dealing with a depleted frontline, Ajax had to cope without top striker Brian Brobbey still nursing an ankle injury and Oliver Edvardsen, sidelined for the season due to a knee issue.
Forced into a reshuffle, manager Francesco Farioli fielded Ajax’s oldest starting XI ever, averaging 29 years and 201 days.
Veteran Wout Weghorst led the attack, while Steven Berghuis was preferred over youngster Mika Godts on the left flank.
Farioli’s tactical tweaks failed to lift the gloom surrounding Ajax, who were coming off a 4-0 thrashing by FC Utrecht and a frustrating 1-1 home draw with Sparta Rotterdam.
The hosts looked toothless in the first half-hour, unable to break down NEC’s compact defense.
A rare lapse from NEC nearly gave Ajax an opener, but Kenneth Taylor’s header was comfortably denied by goalkeeper Robin Roefs.
Collapse After the Break
Despite entering halftime with the score locked at 0-0, Ajax’s momentum quickly fizzled after the restart. NEC’s breakthrough came in the 60th minute when academy graduate Sontje Hansen unleashed a stunning strike from distance, freezing Remko Pasveer and handing the visitors a shock lead.
The setback rattled Ajax, and just seven minutes later, Brayann Pereira pounced on a rebound to double NEC’s advantage after Sami Ouaissa’s initial attempt was stopped.
With Ajax chasing the game and their title hopes slipping away, Farioli threw caution to the wind, substituting out leading scorer Kenneth Taylor and defensive anchor Jorrel Hato in a last-ditch effort. But it made little difference.
Ouaissa delivered the final blow, twisting past Owen Wijndal and Kian Fitz-Jim inside the penalty area before firing a low shot past Pasveer’s near post.
As the clock ticked down, thousands of disheartened Ajax fans headed for the exits well before full-time.
The final whistle marked a historic evening for NEC and a humbling one for the record Dutch champions.
Ajax now face a quick turnaround as they prepare to visit FC Groningen on Wednesday, with little room left for error in the rapidly intensifying title chase.
