Ajax 1-2 FC Twente Player Ratings: Bart van Rooij's Strike Snatches Late Victory For Twente As They Leap Past Ajax In The League Standings

A dramatic late winner from Bart van Rooij saw FC Twente claim a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Ajax in a pulsating Eredivisie encounter. The match was an end-to-end affair, filled with chances and controversy.

It was a game defined by moments of individual brilliance and defensive lapses. The visitors struck first when Ramiz Zerrouki unleashed a stunning strike from distance to give Twente the lead in the 18th minute.

However, AFC Ajax battled back, as their talisman Wout Weghorst found the equalizer in the 32nd minute. The second half was a tense, cagey affair with both sides passing up on several opportunities.

The sheer determination of FC Twente stood out. Just when it seemed the points would be shared in this Eredivisie clash, defender Bart van Rooij popped up with a decisive goal in the 79th minute, sealing a memorable away win for his team.

It was a performance that surprised almost all of the football fraternity, where Twente defeated one of the giants of Dutch football, showing real character to win at the Johan Cruijff Arena.

Here are the Ajax vs FC Twente Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Possession was evenly shared between the two teams, but it was FC Twente who overperformed their xG of 1.37.
• Mats Rots won the most duels in this match (10).
• Bart van Rooij and Thomas Van den Bel both recorded the most successful tackles in this game (4).

Ajax Player Ratings vs FC Twente

Check out the Ajax Player Ratings from the Ajax vs FC Twente Player Ratings..

Goalkeeper

Maarten Paes - 6.0: He couldn't do much about the stunning first goal. Made a couple of decent saves to keep his team in it. His distribution was okay, but conceding two goals at home is never a great look for a keeper. A standard, if ultimately unsuccessful, day at the office.

Defenders

Lucas Rosa - 7.0: A really solid performance from the defender. He was strong in the tackle, winning most of his duels and even managed a clearance off the line. Looked composed on the ball and was one of the few bright spots in the Ajax backline. We noticed his effort never dropped.

Youri Baas - 7.0: Similar to his defensive partner, Baas had a decent outing. He was tidy in possession and made some crucial blocks to thwart Twente attacks. Showed good awareness and positional sense for the most part. A reliable performance in a losing effort.

Josip Sutalo - 6.0: A mixed bag for Sutalo. He made a few important interceptions but was also credited with an error leading to a shot. From our perspective, he looked a little shaky at times, especially when put under pressure. Needs to find more consistency.

Anton Gaaei - 5.5: A day to forget for Gaaei. He really struggled, losing the majority of his duels and was dribbled past too easily. He also picked up a booking for a clumsy challenge. He just didn't seem up to the pace of the game.

Midfielders

Steven Berghuis - 6.0: The captain was not at his influential best. He tried to get on the ball but was largely ineffective in the final third. His frustration showed with a yellow card before he was substituted. We expected more from a player of his quality.

Jorthy Mokio - 6.5: He showed flashes of what he can do, creating a couple of chances. However, he was also loose in possession at times. It was an inconsistent display, mixing moments of quality with frustrating errors. He has the talent but needs to refine his game.

Sean Steur - 5.5: A very quiet game from the midfielder. He failed to make any significant impact on the match either offensively or defensively. The game seemed to pass him by, and he was a passenger for large spells. A disappointing outing.

Forwards

Mika Godts - 8.0: The standout performer for Ajax by a country mile. He was a constant threat, providing the assist for the goal with a great run. His dribbling caused all sorts of problems for the Twente defence. He was the one player who consistently looked like making something happen.

Wout Weghorst - 7.0: Did what a striker is paid to do, he scored a goal. Took his chance well to bring Ajax level. However, he also missed a big chance which could have changed the game. A decent performance, but could have been better.

Oliver Edvardsen - 5.5: Looked off the pace and struggled to get involved. He was ineffective in attack and picked up a needless yellow card. It was no surprise to see him substituted early in the second half.

Substitutes

Oscar Gloukh - 5.5: Came on to try and change the game but ended up getting a yellow card and didn't offer much of a creative spark.

Maher Carrizo - 5.0: Brought on late but had no time or opportunity to make an impact.

Don-Angelo Konadu - 5.0: Similar to Carrizo, was a late substitute with little involvement.

Manager

Ó. García Junyent - 5.0: His team looked defensively fragile and lacked cohesion. While they showed fight to equalize, they couldn't see the game out for a draw. The substitutions had little effect, and the overall game plan seemed flawed.

FC Twente Player Ratings vs Ajax

Have a look at the FC Twente Player Ratings from the Ajax vs FC Twente Player Ratings..

Goalkeeper

Lars Unnerstall - 6.5: Was beaten by Weghorst's clinical finish but was otherwise solid. He commanded his area well and made the saves he was expected to make. A calm and composed performance between the sticks.

Defenders

Bart van Rooij - 8.5: The hero of the day. A captain's performance, capped off with a fantastic winning goal. Defensively, he was solid, but his contribution in the final third was the defining moment of the match. What a performance.

Ruud Nijstad - 7.0: A strong and reliable presence at the heart of the defence. He made numerous clearances and was strong in the air. He read the game well and kept the Ajax forwards quiet for long periods.

Stav Lemkin - 6.0: An all-action, if somewhat reckless, display. He threw his body on the line with several crucial blocks. However, he also gave away cheap fouls and was fortunate not to see red after his yellow card. A bit of a liability at times.

Mats Rots - 7.5: A tireless performance from the full-back. He was excellent, winning his duels and making some great recovery runs. He also got forward to support the attack, showing great energy up and down the flank. What stood out to us was his incredible work rate.

Midfielders

Ramiz Zerrouki - 9.0: Absolutely sensational. The highest rated player on the pitch. Scored a goal-of-the-season contender to open the scoring. He completely dominated the midfield, with a near-perfect passing accuracy. A truly world-class performance that ran the show.

Thomas van den Belt - 7.5: The perfect foil for Zerrouki. He was the engine in midfield, covering every blade of grass. His ball recovery and tackling were immense, breaking up play and setting his team on the front foot. A fantastic, disciplined performance.

Kristian Hlynsson - 6.5: A tricky player who drew a lot of fouls in dangerous areas. He created a couple of decent chances for his teammates. However, from our perspective, his defensive contribution was lacking as he was dribbled past far too often.

Forwards

Sondre Ørjasæter - 8.5: Two assists for the creative forward. His vision and delivery were outstanding. He was the main creative outlet for FC Twente and was a constant thorn in Ajax's side. A brilliant, match-winning contribution.

Daan Rots - 6.0: He worked hard and got into some good positions but his final product was lacking. Picked up a yellow card for a cynical foul before being taken off. A frustrating day for him personally.

Sam Lammers - 7.0: A really interesting performance. He provided the crucial assist for the winning goal. But he also missed a huge chance to score himself. A classic case of being both the hero and the villain in different moments.

Substitutes

Marko Pjaca - 6.0: Came on and put in a decent shift. Helped his team see out the game without doing anything spectacular. A solid, if unspectacular, cameo.

Manager

J. van den Brom - 8.0: He got his tactics spot on. His team was well-organized, resilient, and clinical when it mattered. They were not intimidated by the occasion and showed tremendous character to grab a late winner. A managerial masterclass.

Man of the Match

Ramiz Zerrouki was the man of the match in this Eredivisie game.

Worst Performer

Anton Gaaei was the worst of the lot from Ajax vs FC Twente.