Excelsior 2-2 Ajax Player Ratings: Zagre Late Goal Inspired a Comeback as Teams Share the Spoils in 2-2 Draw

Ajax’s trip to the Van Donge & De Roo Stadion ended in frustration as the Amsterdam giants were held to a 2-2 draw by Excelsior in this Eredivisie encounter. Despite having more possession (52%) and creating two big chances from 11 shots, Ajax were unable to convert first-half dominance into a winning result.

The visitors dominated proceedings before the interval, completing 287 passes at an 86% success rate while limiting Excelsior to limited attacking opportunities. Mika Godts punished the home side twice, giving Ajax a commanding advantage at the break as Excelsior struggled to match the tempo.

Momentum swung decisively after halftime. Excelsior increased their intensity, finished the match with total passes (442), and outmatched Ajax’s xG (0.63) with an xG of 0.80. Goals from Miliano Jonathans and Arthur Zagré completed a spirited comeback, capitalising on Ajax’s second-half collapse. Now, let’s take a look at Sportsdunia’s Excelsior vs Ajax player ratings from this thrilling Eredivisie encounter.

Key Takeaways

• Ajax were rampant before the break, with Mika Godts’ brace putting them firmly in control.
• Excelsior’s bench changed the game, with Jonathans scoring and Gyan de Regt providing two crucial assists.
• A two-goal lead slipped away as Ajax failed to manage the game in the final half-hour.

Ajax Player Ratings vs Excelsior

Check out AFC Ajax player ratings from the game:

Goalkeeper

Vitezslav Jaros - 6.0: He made a few decent saves, three in total. But conceding two goals after being 2-0 up never looks good for a keeper. He couldn't do much about the stunning second goal, to be fair. However, he looked a bit nervous as Excelsior piled on the pressure. A mixed bag of an evening for the shot-stopper.

Defenders

Anton Gaaei - 5.5: A very quiet and difficult game for the defender. He struggled to make any impact, losing possession 14 times. Defensively, he was part of a backline that just crumbled in the second half. We noticed he was dribbled past too easily at times. A night he'll want to forget quickly.

Youri Baas - 6.5: He saw a lot of the ball, completing 74 passes. He tried to get things moving from the back and was solid in his duels. Despite his efforts, the defensive unit as a whole fell apart spectacularly. He can't be held solely responsible, but he couldn't stem the tide either.

Jorthy Mokio - 6.5: Looked quite solid for the 80 minutes he was on the pitch. He was strong in the tackle and recovered the ball nine times. It felt like the defense lost some composure after he was substituted. Perhaps his withdrawal was a key moment in the game's shift.

Josip Sutalo - 6.0: A busy evening for him, making eight clearances. He put his body on the line. However, like the rest of the defence, he was overwhelmed by Excelsior's second-half resurgence. He couldn't organize the backline to withstand the pressure. A frustrating performance, I'd imagine.

Midfielders

Youri Regeer - 7.0: One of Ajax's better performers on the day. He was incredibly tidy in possession with 94% pass accuracy. He also won all of his tackles and recovered the ball eight times. It stood out to us how he kept trying to make things happen even when the team was collapsing.

Davy Klaassen - 6.5: As captain, he had the responsibility to guide his team through the storm. He worked hard and had some decent moments. But ultimately, the midfield lost control in the crucial final 20 minutes. He couldn't wrestle the momentum back from Excelsior. An okay performance, but not a captain's masterclass.

Sean Steur - 6.0: Kept possession well with his passing but was largely anonymous. He didn't offer much in the final third or defensively. He failed to impose himself on the match. It wasn't a surprise to see him substituted after 80 minutes.

Forwards

Mika Godts - 9.0: Without a doubt, the highest-rated player on the pitch. He was absolutely electric, especially in the first half. He scored two fantastic goals and was a constant menace with his five total shots. It's a shame his brilliant performance didn't result in a win. He did everything he could.

Kasper Dolberg - 7.0: Provided a clever assist for the second goal and linked up play nicely. He was a good focal point for the attack before being taken off. It was a decent shift, and his contribution was key to Ajax's early dominance. The attack looked less fluid after he left.

Rayane Bounida - 7.5: A very creative and exciting performance for 67 minutes. He got the assist for the opening goal and created another big chance. He was a nightmare for defenders with his dribbling. His substitution felt a bit premature, as he was causing real problems.

Substitutes

Wout Weghorst - 5.5: Came on to see the game out but missed a huge chance to make it 3-2. Didn't offer the impact expected.

Oliver Edvardsen - 6.0: Created one chance but was otherwise quiet after coming on.

Takehiro Tomiyasu - N/A: Didn't have enough time to make an impact.

Manager

F. Grim - 5.0: His team was 2-0 up and in total control. To see them throw that away is a massive failure. His substitutions didn't work and the team looked completely lost in the final 20 minutes. He will have some serious questions to answer after this collapse.

Excelsior Player Ratings vs Ajax

Here are the Excelsior Player Ratings from the match against Ajax:

Goalkeeper

Stijn van Gassel - 6.0: He conceded two goals but couldn't do much about either. He made a vital save to keep his team in the game. His distribution was a bit shaky, with an error leading to a shot. But his saves were more important than his mistakes in the end.

Defenders

Ilias Bronkhorst - 7.0: A really solid performance from the fullback. He was strong in his duels, winning seven of them. He also created two chances, showing his attacking intent. He was a key part of the second-half fightback, providing energy down the right flank.

Rick Meissen - 7.0: A rock at the back for Excelsior. He recovered the ball an impressive 11 times and made four clearances. He was composed on the ball and stood tall when Ajax were dominating. A very commendable performance that laid the foundation for the comeback.

Casper Widell - 6.5: The captain led by example, especially in the second half. The defence looked shaky early on, but he helped steady the ship. He was strong and made some important interceptions. A true leader's performance to rally his troops from a losing position.

Arthur Zagré - 8.0: What a hero! He scored an absolute screamer to equalize. Beyond the goal, his work rate was phenomenal, with 11 ball recoveries. He never stopped running and was a constant threat down the left. An inspired performance that earned his team a precious point.

Midfielders

Emil Hansson - 5.5: A very disappointing outing. He was completely invisible for the 62 minutes he was on the pitch. He only had 19 touches and failed to make any impact on the game. It was no surprise when he was the first player to be substituted.

Noah Naujoks - 6.0: A battling performance in the heart of midfield. He lost all seven of his duels, which is a poor statistic. However, he worked tirelessly and made some important interceptions. It wasn't pretty, but he played his part in disrupting Ajax's rhythm.

Lennard Hartjes - 6.5: He was extremely neat and tidy in possession, with a 97% pass completion rate. He kept things simple and ticking over. While he didn't offer a huge attacking threat, his composure on the ball was important. A solid, if unspectacular, performance.

Irakli Yegoian - 6.5: He had a mixed game. He was good on the ball and made some nice dribbles. However, he also missed a few chances and had an error that led to a shot. He was involved in a lot of plays, both good and bad. An energetic display.

Derensili Sanches Fernandes - 6.0: He worked hard down the flank but struggled to make an impact. He was subbed off after an hour. He showed some flashes of skill but ultimately couldn't find a way to influence the game in a meaningful way.

Forwards

Jerolldino Bergraaf - 5.5: It was a tough and lonely shift for the striker. He was caught offside twice and barely had a sniff of goal. He was completely isolated against the Ajax defense in the first half. He was subbed off having made very little impact.

Substitutes

Gyan de Regt - 8.5: The game-changer. Came on and provided two brilliant assists. His energy and quality turned the match on its head.

Miliano Jonathans - 8.0: Scored the crucial first goal back with a great header. Another substitute who made a massive impact.

Lewis Schouten - 6.5: Added some fight and got a tactical yellow card.

Mike van Duinen - N/A: Came on late to help see out the draw.

Manager

R. den Uil - 8.5: A tactical masterclass from the manager. His team looked dead and buried at halftime. His substitutions were inspired, with de Regt and Jonathans completely changing the game. He deserves immense credit for masterminding this incredible comeback.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's player of the match was Mika Godts.

Worst Performer

Emil Hansson failed to impress and was substituted in the second half.