Only a win mattered for Ajax on Sunday, with the Amsterdam giants trailing NEC in a heated three-way battle for third place in the Eredivisie. The hosts started with Oscar Gloukh in the starting XI, as well as Kasper Dolberg, who kept Wout Weghorst on the bench.
After Youri Regeer missed an early chance, the opening 20 minutes saw little sensation until Ajax finally created a clear-cut chance, but Kasper Dolberg missed a low cross from Anton Gaaei by a toe's length, still leaving him goalless since January.
Oscar Gloukh was the next to have a shot at Vasilis Barkas' goal, but was kept from scoring by the Greek stopper inside the box.
It was all Ajax in the final 20 minutes of the half, though the hosts had no goals to show for it - Mika Godts hit the post with a placed shot, after which Youri Regeer hoofed the ball high over an empty goal in the rebound.
Ajax's fitness issues seemed to haunt them again, with FC Utrecht picking up the pace after an hour and Ajax struggling to keep up with the visitors, having virtually fallen to fifth place in the meantime.
Late drama for tired Ajax
Time started to run out for Ajax, who, following the examples set all season, struggled mightily in the second half and failed to create a single chance beyond half-time.
The second-half collapse put Ajax in a world of pain with ten minutes to go, with Gjivai Zechiël free to cross the ball across Ajax's goal and find Niklas Vesterlund, who scored a crucial goal in Utrecht's play-off fight and Ajax's Champions League battle.
It was the substitutes who made Ajax's equaliser happen - Rayane Bounida's outswinging corner found Wout Weghorst, who found the top corner and blew life into the Johan Cruyff ArenA.
Mika Godts and Rayane Bounida tried it late for Ajax, but it was former Ajax defender Mike van der Hoorn who dumped the stadium in sadness with a golden header ten seconds ahead of the full-time whistle.
FC Utrecht miraculously beat Ajax 2-1 in the 96th minute, thus securing a spot in the play-offs for UEFA Conference League football. Meanwhile, Ajax drop to fifth and trail FC Twente by three points, meaning a win next week at Heerenveen might not be enough for Ajax to return to the UEFA Champions League.
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