VfB Stuttgart and Ajax played out an entertaining 4-goal thriller at the Robert Schlienz Stadium on Sunday, with Nigerian forward Chuba Akpom delivering a late equaliser for the Dutch side.
VfB Stuttgart and Ajax delivered an exciting 2-2 draw in the friendly encounter that showed the attacking flair and defensive resilience from both sides, Footballrover reports.
Stuttgart’s early dominance stuns Ajax
The match began with Stuttgart asserting dominance early on. Angelo Stiller opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a composed finish, putting the home side ahead.
Just six minutes later, Chris Führich doubled the lead with a brilliant strike, giving Stuttgart a comfortable advantage, leaving Ajax struggling to find their rhythm.
Stuttgart maintained control for the rest of the first half, heading into the break with a 2-0 lead.
Chuba Akpom inspires Ajax’s resilient comeback
However, Ajax made wholesale changes at halftime, including the introduction of Chuba Akpom for Mika Godts.
The substitutions added energy to the visitors, and they halved the deficit in the 52nd minute when Stuttgart’s Jeff Chabot scored an unfortunate own goal to give the Dutch side a lifeline.
Ajax’s hopes of a comeback were dealt a blow when Davy Klaassen was shown a red card in the 57th minute, reducing the visitors to 10 men.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Ajax kept pushing, and Akpom rewarded their persistence with a well-taken equaliser in the 85th minute, completing the comeback.
A sweet pass from the left-wing met the Nigerian free in the 18-yard box and he easily placed his effort at the bottom of the right post.
The match ended 2-2, offering valuable lessons for both teams as Stuttgart impressed with their first-half dominance but faltered defensively in the second half.
Stuttgart’s strong first-half display and Ajax’s spirited recovery provided fans with an entertaining contest.
Both sides will aim to build on this performance as they prepare for their respective competitive fixtures.
Be the first to comment on "Chuba Akpom’s new year goal rescues Ajax in 10-man comeback vs Stuttgart"