Late substitution pays off but Ajax unable to find winner
Ajax were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw against Excelsior at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on Saturday after substitute Tolu Arokodare swept in an equaliser in the 64th minute.
Julian Brandt had opened the scoring for Ajax in the 32nd minute, but the visitors hit back in stoppage time of the first half when Lennard Hartjes levelled. Excelsior then stunned the home side by taking the lead early in the second half through Aymen Sliti in the 62nd minute, only for Arokodare — introduced two minutes earlier — to make an immediate impact.
The Nigerian forward, on loan from Wolves, required just two minutes after his introduction to convert Oscar Gloukh’s pass from close range, sweeping the ball home from inside the six-yard area to rescue a point for Ajax.
- Score: Ajax 2, Excelsior 2
- Key minutes: Brandt 32', Hartjes (1st-half stoppage), Sliti 62', Arokodare 64'
- Possession and attempts: Ajax 80.8% possession, 33 shots; Excelsior 4 shots
Despite dominating territory and chances — Ajax registered 33 attempts to Excelsior’s four and controlled just over 80 per cent of possession — the home side could not find a breakthrough after Arokodare’s leveller. The substitute finished the afternoon with nine attempts, 12 touches in the box and five aerial duels won; he also glanced a corner against the left post in the 87th minute.
Implications for the season and squad
The draw leaves Ajax fourth in the Eredivisie table, while Excelsior moved up to sixth. Ajax now host NEC Nijmegen in their next league fixture, and will look to convert their clear statistical dominance into full points against a different opponent.
Arokodare’s loan move from Wolves runs until the summer of 2027 and includes an option for Ajax to make the transfer permanent. The striker has now scored five goals in eight appearances for Ajax, an impressive strike rate that has drawn attention within the squad — and beyond.
“He is a specialist in choosing his position and is a monster in front of goal. I talk to him a lot about that. I need to start scoring more,”
That assessment came from teammate Kasper Dolberg in an interview with De Telegraaf, reflecting how the arrival of Arokodare is shaping the competition for starting places among Ajax’s forwards.
Arokodare had been sidelined by a fever earlier in the week and was unused on the bench in Ajax’s 5-1 win over Willem II, making his quick impact against Excelsior notable from a fitness and form perspective. Former Ajax midfielder Marciano Vink has publicly tipped Arokodare to score 25 goals in the Eredivisie this season, a projection that will be watched closely if the striker maintains his current strike rate.
Match statistics at a glance
| Metric | Ajax | Excelsior |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 80.8% | 19.2% |
| Shots | 33 | 4 |
| Notable contributor | Tolu Arokodare — 5 goals in 8 games | — |
While the raw numbers underline Ajax’s control of the match, the result highlights the fine margins of the Eredivisie and the importance of clinical finishing. Ajax will be expected to translate such dominance into victories, particularly at home, if they are to challenge for the top spots over the remainder of the campaign.
The match also sits against the backdrop of international football: Nigeria begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign later this month, and Arokodare has been involved with the national team setup. His continued form for Ajax will be significant for both club and country as the season progresses.
For Ajax supporters, the draw raises questions about finishing and defensive concentration in moments of transition. For the coaching staff it provides both reassurance — the squad has firepower on the bench — and a reminder that possession and chances must be converted into match-winning goals.
