Ajax's Heitinga Faces Growing Criticism After Sparta Draw

Ajax draw against Sparta Rotterdam

Ajax manager John Heitinga is facing increasing pressure after his team managed to secure only a late 3-3 draw against Sparta Rotterdam...

Ajax struggled to get anything going in the second half before Wout Weghorst expertly curled the ball into Drommel's far corner in the 72nd minute...

Ajax's struggles continued as they settled for a 3-3 draw against Sparta Rotterdam, with Oscar Gloukh scoring a late equalizer in the 97th minute. This result has added to the pressure on manager John Heitinga, who has faced intense scrutiny following a disappointing start to the season.

Heitinga's situation is precarious, especially after the 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Olympique Marseille last Tuesday. The Ajax board, however, seems to be standing by him for now, despite calls from fans and media for his dismissal. According to reports, the board believes Heitinga needs time to get the team back on track.

The upcoming international break might provide Heitinga with an opportunity to reassess his strategy and make necessary adjustments. However, with the team's performance still hanging in the balance, Heitinga's job as Ajax manager remains under threat.

Ajax's coach, John Heitinga, has made some notable lineup changes for their match against Sparta Rotterdam. Wout Weghorst, the Dutch international, has started the game after recovering from an injury, which means Oscar Gloukh will have to settle for a spot on the bench. Meanwhile, youngster Jorthy Mokio will make his debut at left-back, taking over for the injured Owen Wijndal. This move highlights Heitinga's willingness to give youth a chance and potentially shake things up in the team's defense.

Sparta Rotterdam, despite their recent defensive struggles, managed to keep Ajax at bay in the first half through solid organization. Kenneth Taylor had an early chance for Ajax, but goalkeeper Joel Drommel made a crucial save.

The deadlock was broken when Wout Weghorst capitalized on a scoring opportunity, finishing into an open goal after a precise pass from Youri Baas to Mika Godts.

Ajax's lead was short-lived, as Youri Baas conceded a penalty by handling the ball mid-tackle. Tobias Lauritsen scored the penalty in extra time, leveling the score going into halftime.

After halftime, Sparta Rotterdam made a significant breakthrough when Mitchell van Bergen scored his first goal of the game, rocketing the ball past Ajax's goalkeeper Viteszlav Jaros in the 52nd minute. Shortly after, Joshua Kitolano doubled Sparta's lead, calmly placing the ball into Jaros' left-hand corner from the edge of Ajax's box.

Draw. pic.twitter.com/wUjNqRXwYZ

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) October 4, 2025

Ajax struggled to create scoring opportunities in the second half, but Wout Weghorst's expert curl into Drommel's far corner in the 72nd minute breathed life into the team. Substitute Oscar Gloukh revitalized Ajax's attack in the final stages, and his efforts paid off in the 97th minute, when the creative midfielder, somewhat luckily, received a cross from Anton Gaaei and fired the ball home at Drommel's near post.

Ajax were lucky to grab a point away at Sparta, who put John Heitinga under even more pressure as the international break starts. Heitinga has little time to figure out his flaws, as AZ come to Amsterdam on Saturday, October 18th.

Match Analysis:

Ajax's Performance: Despite dominating possession with 66.7%, Ajax struggled to create clear chances in the second half.

Sparta's Strategy: Sparta's defensive organization and counter-attacks caused Ajax significant problems, leading to a 3-1 deficit before Weghorst's goal.

Gloukh's Impact: Oscar Gloukh's introduction as a substitute brought fresh energy to Ajax's attack, culminating in the 97th-minute equalizer.

2 - John Heitinga became just the second Ajax manager over the last decade to see his side concede 3+ goals in consecutive matches (all competitions), after Maurice Steijn (3 consecutive games in September 2023). Struggle. pic.twitter.com/VVjknz1nM4

— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) October 4, 2025

What's Next for Ajax?

Ajax's next match is against AZ Alkmaar on October 18th at the Johan Cruijff ArenA. Given their recent performance, they'll need to regroup and address their defensive issues to secure a win.