Ajax disappears into the underworld after "extraterrestrial embarrassment"
It's never happened before: the great Ajax are knocked out of the cup against an amateur club. Even the rest of Europe can only describe the downfall of the former Champions League giants in very grand terms. Nobody can believe what is currently happening at the Dutch record champions.
Ajax Amsterdam is a mere shadow of its former glory days. The negative highlight for the time being was the historic cup defeat of the Dutch soccer record champions against the amateur club USV Hercules - which even caused severe criticism abroad. De Telegraaf" ran the headline "An unearthly embarrassment for Ajax", and even the Spanish newspaper "Marca" spoke of a "scandalous failure. The club is relegated to the underworld!"
On Thursday evening, the 20-time cup winners were eliminated in the second round with a 2:3 defeat at fourth-division club Hercules, the first time in their cup history that they had been eliminated by an amateur club.
"Ajax's disastrous season has thus reached a new historic low", wrote "De Telegraaf". "De Volkskrant" spoke of a fall "into a crater from which the bottom has obviously not yet been reached". The team had more than embarrassed itself. "Even against amateurs, Ajax can't defend ... And they can't attack properly either."
Eliminated deep into injury time
The record champions from the state capital are going through probably the most difficult time in their history - including a serious board crisis. In October, Ajax were even in last place in the Eredivisie. Under new coach John van 't Schip, Ajax has now improved to fifth place after a historically poor start to the season. However, they are already 23 points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven.
Brian Brobbey and Chuba Akpom scored in the 83rd and 88th minutes on Thursday evening to reduce a 2-0 deficit late on, but Mats Grotenbreg scored the winner for the underdogs in stoppage time to complete the sensation. "That shouldn't have happened," said Ajax assistant coach Michael Valkanis after the game.
He stood in for head coach van 't Schip, who is in Australia for his son's wedding. "We are going through a very difficult season. But we have to keep working and get everything back on track," said Valkanis.
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Despite their improved standing in the Eredivisie under new coach John van 't Schip, Ajax Amsterdam continues to struggle, as evidenced by their recent Soccer match against fourth-division club Hercules. In a shocking turn of events, Hercules managed to eliminate the 20-time cup winners with a last-minute goal, leaving Ajax Amsterdam fans and soccer enthusiasts worldwide stunned by Ajax Amsterdam's unexpected defeat to an amateur club.
The defeat of Ajax Amsterdam at the hands of Hercules in the Soccer Cup has been widely described as an "extraterrestrial embarrassment," further highlighting the team's struggles this season and their recent below-par performances on the pitch.
Source: www.ntv.de
