FC Groningen 2-2 Ajax Player Ratings: Dramatic Stoppage Time Equalizer Dents Ajax's Eredivisie Title Chase

Ajax were held to a frustrating 2-2 draw by FC Groningen in their Eredivisie clash at the Euroborg Stadium, Groningen on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. Despite taking the lead twice, the hosts came back two times to get a point and ruin their Eredivisie title chase. Here's how the action rolled out in the FC Groningen vs Ajax Player Ratings.

The hosts began the game in promising fashion, taking the fight to the league leaders with some energetic swift breaks. Jorg Schreuders was able to weave his way into the final third in the 4th minute, but his shot was saved well by Remko Pasveer. Ajax's first big chance came in the 10th minute as Bertrand Traore was sent through on goal, but his shot was denied.

A minute late, Schreuders had another chance to score but couldn't get his shot on target! Luciano Valente was able to get in a promising area in the 14th minute, but his shot went well wide. Stije Resink had a shot saved three minutes later, but Ajax started getting back as the pressure increased. They took the lead in the 27th minute when Brian Brobbey teed a pass to Anton Gaaei, who rifled a powerful shot into the back of the net. Ajax had a big chance to double their lead in the 45th minute, only for Mika Godts to put a header into the side-netting.

FC Groningen came out firing on all cylinders and scored the equalizer in the 52nd minute, when Thom Van Bergen slipped his marker to produce a powerful finish into the back of the net.

However, Francesco Farioli's substitutions worked to perfection as super-sub Wout Weghorst produced a clever close-range finish to help his side take a 2-1 lead in the 68th minute. The hosts had a few chances to come back in the game. Stije Resink's header in the 77th minute went over the bar, and Luciano Valente's shot went over two minutes later.

Ajax scored a goal in the 82nd minute Steven Berghuis, but it was ruled out as he was offside. Van Bergen saw a header saved in the 89th minute. They were brought down to 10 men in stoppage time as Valente was sent off for a rough challenge on Jordan Henderson. However, FC Groningen refused to give up and Thijmen Blokzijl scored a dramatic equalizer in the 99th minute to help his side steal a point and dent Ajax's title hopes, as they are one point behind league leaders PSV heading into the final matchday. Here are the FC Groningen vs Ajax Player Ratings.

FC Groningen Player Ratings vs Ajax

GK - Etienne Vaessen - 4.5/10

Vaessen made a sharp save to deny Traore early on, but his positioning was all wrong for the opening goal. Shaky in his goal and his distribution wasn't the best either.

RB - Marco Rente - 7/10

The German defender held his own against Godts. He was study and combative, making quite a few key tackles and winning seven duels!

CB - Hjalmar Ekdal - 5.5/10

Ekdal held together a decent defensive line but was outwitted by Brobbey & co at times. He made a few key challenges but was often dribbled past to leave his backline exposed. Completely lost mark of Weghorst for his goal.

CB - Thijmen Blokzijl - 8/10

The 20-year-old was commanding and quite reliable at the back. He passed the ball forward well and came up big in some situations, making some important timely clearances. Popped up with a huge late goal to earn his side a point.

LB - Wouter Prins - 5.5/10

Prins was given a tough time by Traore. He lost quite a few duels on that side and was outwitted by the winger. Caught in an awkward position for the Ajax opener too.

CM - Stje Resink - 8/10

Resink was energetic and efficient in the middle, winning the ball back at regular intervals and ushering his side forward. He helped out defensively, stopped Ajax's movement in midfield and produced a brilliant cross to assist the equalizer.

CM - Leandro Bacuna - 6/10

The FC Groningen captain showed a lot of proactiveness in winning the ball back quite a few times. He was, although, a bit clumsy with his challenges and a bit too aggressive at times.

RW - Dave Kwakman - 5.5/10

The young winger showed admirable spirit in helping out defensively and winning quite a few duels. But he was clumsy in moving the ball along and failed to really create anything.

AM - Luciano Valente - 6/10

Valente was at the middle of a lot of promising attacks for his side. He drove them forward with clever passes and created five chances with his smart final delivery but couldn't get rewarded for it. His game ended with a sending off for a nasty challenge, as his tempers took over him.

LW - Jorg Schreuders -6/10

The 20-year-old was a troublesome figure early on, getting into some nice areas and getting shots off on goal. But his shooting wasn't that clinical, and he couldn't create much.

CF - Thom van Bergen - 7.5/10

Van Bergen was a thorn with his clever movement and link-up play to disrupt the Ajax backline. He brilliantly beat Hato's marking to score a smashing equalizer.

SUB - Marvin Peersman - 6.5/10

Peersman was able to add more steel to his backline, making a few nice challenges late on.

SUB - Brynjolfur Willumsson - 6/10

The forward was sharp with his link-up play, but couldn't really get involved in anything major.

SUB - Mats Seuntjens - 6/10

Put in an energetic shift late on. Won some duels, but lacked that attacking spark.

SUB - Romano Postema - N/R

Came on the final minutes to add something special to his side's attack. But he couldn't create anything big.

Manager - Dick Lukkien - 7.5/10

Lukkien did an admirable job in helping his side take the fight to Ajax and play an intense, efficient version of football. He ensured they took the fight to them, despite them coming up short in the first half. Sparked a nice comeback in the first half, and kept his side pushing to earn a hard-fought point.

Ajax Player Ratings vs FC Groningen

GK - Remko Pasveer - 4.5/10

Pasveer made a few nice saves to frustrate the hosts but couldn't do anything for Van Bergen's smashing goal. His distribution was a bit wonky, as he succumbed to the hosts' pressure quite often. In a bad position for the late equalizer.

RB - Anton Gaaei - 7.5/10

Gaaei was a real positive for Ajax, being an electric figure on the right. He provided quite a few key challenges with his defensive work and moved his forward. Produced a brilliant finish for his goal.

CB - Josip Sutalo - 6/10

Sutalo did a pretty good job with his positioning and game-reading to recover possession quite a few times and frustrate the hosts. Moved the ball along nicely as well.

CB - Jorrel Hato - 5/10

Hato did a decent job when it came to winning key duels and moving his side forward with hi passes. However, he was caught in some awkward positions at times and horribly played Van Bergen onside for his goal.

LB - Jorthy Mokio - 5.5/10

The teenager was really made to work on the left and did a decent job in the game. He regained the ball quite a few times but also lost quite a few duels before getting injured.

CM - Jordan Henderson - 7/10

The Ajax skipper led from the front, ushering his side forward with his crisp passing. He was commanding in midfield, regaining possession quite a few times and regained the ball before helping Berghuis set up the second goal.

CM - Kenneth Taylor - 5/10

Taylor was quite error prone in the midfield, losing quite a duel and failing to really stamp his authority. Couldn't create much for his side either.

CM - Kian Fitz-Jim - 4.5/10

The 21-year-old had a tough outing against FC Groningen. He struggled under their pressure and intensity, losing quite a few duels and failing to help his side control the game properly.

RW - Bertrand Traore - 6.5/10

Traore was a problem for the hosts with his clever movement on the wide areas. He completed quite a few dribbles to get into promising areas and also swung in a nice cross for the opening goal.

LW - Mika Godts - 5/10

Godts was able to get into some promising areas with his clever movement, but his final product was awry. He wasn't able to create much and wasted a few chances too.

CF - Brian Brobbey - 6.5/10

Brobbey used his physicality to help with the link-up play and move his side forward nicely. He played a nice role in the opener, laying off a nice pass to help Gaaei score.

SUB - Davy Klassen - 6/10

Klassen helped to raise the energy levels of his side after coming on, helping them control the game better and move forward with more efficiency.

SUB - Wout Weghorst - 7.5/10

Weghorst troubled the hosts with his unpredictable movement. Got in the right place to slot home a nice close-range finish for his goal.

SUB - Owen Wijndal - 5.5/10

Wijdal helped to close down his side defensive structure and make them more stubborn at the back.

SUB - Steven Berghuis - 6.5/10

Berghuis raised the creative threat of his side with his smart delivery. Produced a perfect cross to help Weghorst score the goal.

SUB - Youri Regeer - N/R

Helped his side maintain a compact shape to see out the game.

Manager - Francesco Farioli - 6.5/10

Farioli couldn't enable his side to hold onto the lead twice in the game. He ensured they controlled possession and maintained a pretty sturdy shape. His substitutions made a positive impact, but his side were defensively shaky and conceded a poor goal late on.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match goes to Thijmen Blokzijl.

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