Eredivisie: Ajax Drop to Fifth After Late Collapse Against Utrecht

Utrecht stun Ajax with 96th-minute winner to dent champions league hopes

Former Ajax defender Mike van der Hoorn scored in stoppage time to beat his old club 2-1, dealing a major blow to Ajax’s Champions League ambitions.

Ajax stunned by 96th-minute Utrecht winner in Champions League blow. Van der hoorn’s late header sinks Ajax in Utrecht upset...

Ajax’s hopes of Champions League qualification took a hit after conceding a dramatic goal in the 96th minute, with FC Utrecht running out 2-1 winners. The result booked Utrecht a spot in the Conference League play-offs while leaving Ajax with a costly dropped point in the race for third.

Only a win would do for Ajax on Sunday as they battled NEC and Utrecht in a tight three-way fight for the Eredivisie’s final Champions League spot. The hosts started with Oscar Gloukh and Kasper Dolberg up front, with Wout Weghorst named on the bench.

After Youri Regeer passed up an early opening, the game stayed quiet for 20 minutes until Ajax carved out a clear chance. Dolberg narrowly failed to connect with Anton Gaaei’s low cross, stretching for it but missing by inches and extending his goal drought since January.

Oscar Gloukh then tested Vasilis Barkas inside the box, but the Greek goalkeeper stood firm to deny the midfielder.

Ajax dominated the final 20 minutes of the first half but couldn’t find the net. Mika Godts struck the post with a well-placed shot, and Youri Regeer blasted the rebound high over an empty goal.

Fitness issues resurfaced for Ajax after the hour mark, as Utrecht raised the tempo and the hosts struggled to keep up. By that point, Ajax had effectively slipped to fifth in the table.

Ajax run out of steam after the break

Time slipped away for Ajax as their familiar second-half struggles returned. After halftime they failed to carve out a single chance, unable to sustain the pressure they showed before the break.

With ten minutes left, Ajax’s collapse was punished. Gjivai Zechiel delivered a cross across the face of goal that found Niklas Vesterlund, who finished to give Utrecht a crucial goal in both their own play-off push and Ajax’s Champions League chase.

Loss. #ajautr pic.twitter.com/h5o8T75jOp

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) May 10, 2026

Ajax’s bench sparked the equalizer. Rayane Bounida’s outswinging corner met Wout Weghorst, who headed into the top corner to reignite the Johan Cruyff ArenA.

Mika Godts and Rayane Bounida pushed late for Ajax, but it was former Ajax defender Mike van der Hoorn who silenced the stadium with a decisive header just ten seconds before full time.

FC Utrecht snatched a dramatic 2-1 win in the 96th minute, sealing their place in the UEFA Conference League play-offs. The result dropped Ajax to fifth and left them three points behind FC Twente, meaning even a win at Heerenveen next week may not be enough to secure a Champions League spot.