Ajax managed a 1-1 draw against Slavia Prague in their UEFA Europa League clash on Thursday.
The Amsterdam side initially took the lead through a penalty converted by Branco van den Boomen, but Tomas Chory equalized for the hosts.
A significant setback for Ajax came when Youri Baas was sent off, putting added pressure on the team during the final half-hour of the match.
Missing key players such as Steven Berghuis, Wout Weghorst, Jordan Henderson, Kian Fitz-Jim, and Bertrand Traore, Ajax relied on substitutes like Mika Godts, Brian Brobbey, and Christian Rasmussen to step up.
Brobbey had a golden opportunity early on in the tenth minute when a misjudged pass from a Slavia Prague defender fell directly to him. Using his physicality to get past David Zima, he unfortunately shot wide while one-on-one with goalkeeper Antonin Kinsey.
Just six minutes later, Ajax was awarded a penalty after Ondřej Zmrzlý fouled Rasmussen as he was about to control the ball. Branco van den Boomen confidently slotted the penalty into the bottom corner to give Ajax the lead.
In the first half, Slavia Prague struggled to threaten, with their best chance coming from striker Mojmir Chytil, who narrowly missed a touch on a cross.
Before halftime, Brobbey found himself in a similar position again but, like his earlier attempt, he failed to convert, sending the shot wide.
Ajax goalkeeper Remko Pasveer made a stunning save in the 51st minute, denying Simeon Michez’s deflected shot and keeping Ajax in front.
However, Slavia Prague’s substitutions shifted the momentum in their favor during the second half.
The equalizer arrived when the towering Tomas Chory headed in a well-placed cross, leveling the score.
Things worsened for Ajax in the 75th minute when Youri Baas was shown a second yellow card, leaving Ajax to defend their position as they sought to maintain the draw.
Despite the mounting challenges, Ajax held on to secure a 1-1 draw in a match filled with physical confrontations and fouls.
Both teams now sit on four points from two matches, with Ajax previously defeating Besiktas, while Slavia Prague had secured a win against Ludogorets.
Looking ahead, Slavia will face the Athletic Club, while Ajax prepares to travel to Qarabag for their next fixture.
