Soccer-Ajax stunned by amateurs Hercules in shock Dutch Cup loss

AFC Ajax NV

21/12/2023 20:21

Dec 21 (Reuters) - Ajax Amsterdam’s poor season went
from bad to worse after they suffered one of the biggest shocks
in their history with a 3-2 loss to fourth-tier amateur side USV
Hercules in the last 32 of the Dutch Cup on Thursday.
    Trailing 2-0 in Utrecht after 82 minutes, Ajax looked to
have saved themselves when Brian Brobbey and Chuba Akpom netted
late goals to level the score.
    But Hercules netted the winner through Mats Grotenbreg in
the third minute of injury-time after their own coach Rene van
der Kooij had given his team a two percent chance of victory
before the game.
    Ajax coach John van 't Schip was not present to witness his
side’s capitulation as he is in Australia to attend his son’s
wedding.
    It is the first time Ajax have lost to an amateur club in
the Dutch Cup. In the 29 previous meetings, they have scored at
least four goals.
    Ajax spent the early part of this season in the relegation
zone but have since risen to fifth in the Eredivisie table,
albeit they are a massive 23 points behind leaders PSV
Eindhoven.  
      

 (Reporting by Nick Said)
 ((nick.said@thomsonreuters.com;))