Telstar 2-3 Ajax Player Ratings: De Godenzonen Hold Their Nerve in Five-Goal Rollercoaster Against Telstar

The night in the Eredivisie began with Ajax playing with a fantastic gameplan, setting a tempo that Telstar simply could not live with early on. Inside the opening 15 minutes, the visitors were already two goals to the good, with Oscar Gloukh and Mika Godts showing ruthless efficiency in front of the goal.

From that moment, it looked like a straightforward evening for Ajax.

Ajax controlled over 65% of the possession, registered more than 15 shots, and spent long spells camped in Telstar’s half. When Youri Baas made it 3-0, the contest appeared completely settled.

But the game took a chaotic turn. Cedric Hatenboer’s straight red card changed the mood, and a bizarre own goal from Baas handed Telstar a way back into the match.

Danny Bakker’s strike soon after cut the deficit further, and suddenly Ajax were under pressure.

Despite playing with ten men, Telstar showed remarkable spirit, pushing Ajax all the way to the final whistle and making what should have been a routine win uncomfortably tense. It was a match full of momentum swings and late drama. Sportsdunia brings you the Telstar vs Ajax Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

Ajax Player Ratings vs Telstar

Let's take a detailed lookat the Ajax Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Vitezslav Jaros - 6.0: He conceded two goals, though he couldn't do much for either. Jaros made a crucial save from a Danny Bakker header that kept his team ahead. His distribution felt a little rushed, with only 30% of his long balls finding their man. He looked a bit shaky under pressure late in the game, something we've seen before. Overall, an average performance.

Defenders

Lucas Rosa - 6.5: A steady, if unspectacular, performance from the right-back. He was solid enough defensively, winning a couple of tackles and making two important blocks. We noticed he was hesitant to get forward at times. He lost the ball nine times, which is a bit high for a defender. He did his job without any major fireworks.

Anton Gaaei - 7.5: What stood out to us was his attacking contribution. He delivered a great assist for the opening goal and created three chances in total. He was always looking to get forward and join the attack. Defensively, he was a little less convincing, losing four of his eight duels. Still, his attacking output was key for Ajax.

Ko Itakura - 8.5: An absolute monster at the back and our highest-rated player. From our perspective, he was the reason Ajax held on. He made a staggering nine clearances and had a near-perfect pass accuracy of 98%. He won the majority of his duels and seemed to be everywhere. It was a commanding and dominant defensive display.

Youri Baas - 7.0: This was one of the strangest performances we've ever rated. He scored a great header to make it 3-0. He also provided an assist for the second goal. But then, he scored a calamitous own goal that put his team under immense pressure. He was so good and so bad in one game. The goal and assist saved his rating from disaster.

Midfielders

Youri Regeer - 6.5: He was having a tidy game before an unfortunate injury forced him off. His pass completion was excellent, and he kept the play ticking over in midfield. He didn't make a huge impact in the final third, but he provided a stable base. It's a shame his game was cut short.

Oscar Gloukh - 7.5: Scored a wonderful opening goal to set the tone for Ajax. He was a livewire for the 65 minutes he was on the pitch. His direct running and willingness to shoot caused constant problems for the Telstar defence. It was a very impressive outing from the young midfielder.

Mika Godts - 8.0: An electrifying performance. His goal from a tight angle was simply brilliant. He registered three shots on target and was a constant threat down the left. What stood out was his confidence on the ball and his ability to create something from nothing. A fantastic display full of energy and quality.

Davy Klaassen - 5.5: A surprisingly quiet game from the captain. We expected him to run the show, but he was largely anonymous. His passing was off, and he lost possession too easily. He just couldn't seem to get a foothold in the match. A disappointing and ineffective performance from a player of his calibre.

Sean Steur - 7.0: A really combative and energetic performance in the middle of the park. He played 15 passes into the final third, always looking to be positive. He won most of his duels and put in a real shift for the team. A solid, hardworking display that shouldn't go unnoticed.

Forwards

Kasper Dolberg - 5.0: It was a deeply frustrating day for the striker. He missed a big chance and his touch seemed to desert him, with a pass accuracy of just 42%. He worked hard off the ball but offered very little threat. His frustration boiled over, leading to a yellow card. A performance he'll want to forget quickly.

Substitutes

Rayane Bounida - 7.0: Came on and made an immediate impact, providing the assist for the third goal from a corner. Looked bright.
Kian Fitz-Jim - N/A: Came on for the injured Regeer but didn't have enough time to influence the game.
Jorthy Mokio - N/A: A late substitute with little time to make an impact.
Don-Angelo Konadu - N/A: Replaced Kasper Dolberg but had minimal involvement.

Manager

F. Grim - 6.5: His team's start was perfect, with the early tactics blowing Telstar away. However, we felt his side lost control after the red card. They became complacent at 3-0 and almost threw away the three points. The late-game management was questionable and made the win much harder than it needed to be.

Telstar Player Ratings vs Ajax

Goalkeeper

Ronald Koeman Jr. - 7.0: He conceded three goals, but it could have been far worse without him. He made five saves, four of which were from shots inside the box. He stood tall and kept his team in the match for as long as possible. A busy but commendable performance from the keeper.

Defenders

Guus Offerhaus - 5.5: He really struggled against the fluid movement of Ajax's attackers. Offerhaus lost most of his duels and looked overwhelmed at times. He made a few interceptions but was part of a defence that was carved open too easily in the first half. A tough day at the office for him.

Danny Bakker - 6.5: The captain led by example with his fighting spirit. He scored the goal that gave Telstar a glimmer of hope. He was strong in the air but found it more difficult in ground duels. A mixed bag of a performance, but his goal was a huge moment.

Neville Ogidi Nwankwo - 7.0: A really solid and impressive display from the defender. In a defence that was under constant pressure, he stood out by winning 100% of his duels. He was composed, read the game well with two interceptions, and made crucial clearances. He was a genuine bright spot for the home side.

Midfielders

Jeff Hardeveld - 7.5: He was Telstar's main creative force. Hardeveld provided an assist and created an impressive four chances for his team. His delivery from wide areas was a constant source of danger. He worked hard defensively, too, making a couple of tackles. An excellent all-round performance.

Tyrese Noslin - 5.0: A very quiet and ineffective game from the midfielder. He was a passenger for much of the time he was on the pitch. He lost possession nine times and failed to make any impact before being substituted before the hour mark. He just never got into the rhythm of the game.

Nils Rossen - 6.0: He put in a lot of work in the engine room but was often bypassed by Ajax's slick passing. Rossen was tidy on the ball and recovered it six times. However, he offered little going forward and was caught offside once. A hardworking but limited performance.

Cedric Hatenboer - 4.0: His performance will be remembered for one moment. The red card he received for a reckless challenge was a turning point. It was a moment of madness that put his team in an impossible position. Before that, he was involved, but the dismissal completely overshadows everything else. The worst performer on the pitch.

Forwards

Milan Zonneveld - 5.5: He competed well in the air, winning four aerial duels. However, on the ground, he struggled to make any real impact. His passing was poor and he lost possession frequently. He was substituted early in the second half after failing to trouble the Ajax defence.

Patrick Brouwer - 6.0: We appreciated his effort and willingness to take players on. He attempted five dribbles and was always trying to make something happen. Unfortunately, his end product was lacking, and he lost the ball 11 times. A frustrating afternoon for the attacker.

Jochem Ritmeester van de Kamp - 5.5: For a forward, he was surprisingly quiet in attack. His three interceptions show a good work rate off the ball. But he offered very little threat in the final third and was largely anonymous going forward. He needed to be more involved in the game.

Substitutes

Devon Koswal - 6.0: Came on and put in a decent defensive shift.
Adil Lechkar - 5.5: Got booked almost immediately after coming on for a poor challenge.
Soufiane Hetli - N/A: Introduced late in the game with little time to make a mark.

Manager

A. Correia - 6.0: His team looked completely outclassed in the first 20 minutes. The initial defensive setup was all wrong. However, what impressed us was the spirit and fight his team showed after going down to 10 men. He deserves immense credit for motivating his players to push Ajax all the way to the end.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's player of the match goes to Ko Itakura.

Worst Performer

Cedric Hatenboer had the worst performance in the Telstar vs Ajax Eredivisie encounter.