Jong Ajax and SC Cambuur played to a 1-1 draw on Monday evening, marking another missed opportunity for Cambuur as they fight for direct promotion spots in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie. After their previous match ended frustratingly against TOP Oss, SC Cambuur was eager to secure points against the Ajax reserves to remain competitive and close the gap with other promotion contenders.
The young Ajax squad, under the new management of Frank Peereboom, featured talents such as Rayane Bounida and Jorthy Mokio. Mokio was absent from the lineup after being called up to the first team, showcasing the depth of talent within the club. This season, Cambuur has had success against other youth teams, having previously claimed victories over Jong AZ, Jong FC Utrecht, and Jong PSV.
Despite the stakes, Cambuur struggled initially, with their first significant chance only occurring late in the first half. The match began cautiously, with both teams testing each other's defenses. While Cambuur had possession, they failed to convert it effectively, registering only one shot on target before the break.
Following half-time, the game surged to life. Cambuur came close to opening the score when Benjamin Pauwels hit the crossbar minutes before Ajax scored. It was Precious Ugwu of Jong Ajax who broke the deadlock, scoring just after the hour mark, firing the ball past Cambuur goalkeeper Thijs Jansen following good work on the left flank.
Just as Ajax took the lead, Cambuur responded with vigor. Henk de Jong made key substitutions to inject new energy, including bringing on Jeredy Hilterman, who quickly made his mark by equalizing from a free kick, scoring with what he called "a stolen goal." It was Hilterman’s first goal for the club, yet he lamented the missed chance to secure all three points.
The last moments of the match saw opportunities from both sides, with Cambuur's Michael de Leeuw nearly netting the winner. A low header from Ajax's Julian Rijkhoff hit the post, illustrating the narrow margins of the game.
Post-match, coach Henk de Jong acknowledged the gravity of the situation. "This can be a very important point for us," he stated. With Cambuur holding fifth place and four points adrift of direct promotion, they have eleven matches remaining, providing potential for them to accrue sufficient points for advancement.
Looking forward, Cambuur's next matchup is against VVV-Venlo, who currently stands lower on the league table but has shown signs of resilience after narrowly losing to league leaders FC Volendam. With high hopes for the upcoming home match at their Kooi Stadion, the squad is determined to seize the opportunity and push toward enhancing their chances for promotion.
Overall, the draw at De Toekomst highlighted the challenges both teams face. While Jong Ajax continues to nurture its young talents, SC Cambuur must refine its strategy and performance as they remain locked in fierce competition for promotion to the Eredivisie.