FC Utrecht let Ajax escape this afternoon (Sunday). Utrecht had several good chances to take the lead in the Galgenwaard in the first half, but in the end Ajax took the points home. A lucky strike by Lasse Schöne decided the exciting game: 0-1.

Schöne also had the easiest chance to score after an hour’s play. Referee Björn Kuipers pointed to the penalty spot and the Dane claimed the ball. The away fans held their breath, the home fans whistled. David Jensen, also from Denmark, prepared for what was about to come. A shot, of course, but the ball went over! Schöne missed the penalty and the score was still 0-0 after 60 minutes.

Attacking play
That score line was nothing less than a miracle. Utrecht had already had a hatful of chances. A full Galgenwaard was shaking on its foundations in the last 15 minutes of the first half. Utrecht played attacking football at top speed. They produced many threats and chances, but if an Ajax player didn’t get in the way André Onana parried the ball. Apart from one time. Richairo Zivkovic shot at goal but hit the post.

Not quite
The ball didn’t land quite right for Utrecht, not quite where the players wanted it, not quite at a Utrecht player’s feet. A well-positioned Ajax player was always on hand to take possession.

Lucky strike
Schöne had failed to put the ball between the posts and under the bar from 11 metres but he did from an amazingly tricky position ten minutes from time. An Ajax corner was cleared only for the ball  to land at the Dane’s feet and without thinking, he placed it safely in the far corner: 0-1.

Final thrust
Utrecht tried to score the equaliser in the closing minutes but weren’t sharp enough in the box and the Amsterdammers brought a run of ten league games without loss to an end.

Cup match on Wednesday
The ball will be rolling again in the Galgenwaard on Wednesday. Utrecht are playing in the quarter final of the KNVB Cup at home against SC Cambuur. The
match begins at 18.30. 

FC Utrecht - Ajax 0-1 (0-0)
83. Lasse Schöne 0-1

Yellow cards: Willem Janssen (FC Utrecht), Hakim Ziyech, Lasse Schöne and Justin Kluivert (allen Ajax).

Attendance: 21,009.

Referee: Björn Kuipers.

FC Utrecht line-up:
David Jensen; Mark van der Maarel, Ramon Leeuwin (64. Giovanni Troupée), Willem Janssen, Robin van der Meer; Wout Brama, Sofyan Amrabat, Yassin Ayoub, Nacer Barazite (86. Menno Koch); Richairo Zivkovic (76. Kristoffer Peterson), Sébastien Haller.

Ajax line-up:
André Onana; Joel Veltman, Davinson Sánchez (74. Matthijs de Ligt), Nick Viergever, Daley Sinkgraven; Lasse Schöne, Davy Klaassen, Hakim Ziyech (90. Donny van de Beek); Anwar El Ghazi (73. Justin Kluivert), Kasper Dolberg, Amin Younes.