Ouazane shines in tight away win, Ter Stegen preserves lead
Ajax travelled to Rotterdam and left with a 2-1 victory over Sparta on Sunday afternoon, a result decided in the opening 45 minutes and protected by a busy second-half performance from goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen. The young Moroccan forward Abdellah Ouazane opened the scoring and Tolu Arokodare struck in stoppage time before half to secure the win.
The match at Het Kasteel produced a rapid sequence of events in the first half. Ouazane, 17, put Ajax ahead in the 22nd minute after a one-two with Julian Brandt that allowed him to curl a right-footed shot past Sparta goalkeeper Michael Brouwer. Sparta levelled in the 43rd minute when veteran midfielder Jens Toornstra headed home an Isaac Babadi cross.
Ajax regained the advantage in first-half stoppage time. A quick counter led by Brandt ended with the final ball to Tolu Arokodare, who slotted home to make it 2-1.
Second half: Ter Stegen and the defence hold firm
Sparta pressed for an equalizer after the break, but Ter Stegen made several important stops to protect Ajax’s slender lead. Manager Michel Sanchez made a tactical change in the 61st minute, replacing Ouazane with Oscar Gloukh as Ajax managed the game to the final whistle.
The win moved Ajax provisionally into second place in the Eredivisie with 21 points, three points behind leaders Feyenoord. The result continued a strong run of form for Ajax, who have recorded three consecutive victories in all competitions.
Young striker cements his breakthrough
Ouazane’s contribution at Sparta was the latest in a fruitful spell for the teenager. The goal in Rotterdam was his second Eredivisie strike of the season, following a goal against Heerenveen in August. It also came on the back of his first European goal earlier in the week, when he scored in stoppage time to secure Ajax’s 2-0 UEFA Conference League win over Atalanta.
Born in Amsterdam and a product of Ajax’s famed academy, Ouazane joined the club in 2016 and signed his first professional contract in August 2025 that runs until June 2028. His recent form has earned him a first senior call-up to the Morocco national team.
"Ouazane responded to a starting place with another goal,"
The 17-year-old started alongside fellow Moroccan international Sofyan Amrabat at Het Kasteel, underlining Ajax’s blending of academy graduates and established internationals in their matchday squad.
- Final score: Sparta 1 – Ajax 2
- Ajax scorers: Abdellah Ouazane (22'), Tolu Arokodare (45+ stoppage)
- Sparta scorer: Jens Toornstra (43')
| Event | Minute |
|---|---|
| Ouazane goal | 22' |
| Toornstra equalizer | 43' |
| Tolu stoppage-time winner | 45+ ' |
For local readers in Ajax, Ontario, the result is another reminder of the global footprint of the Ajax name and the way the Amsterdam club’s academy continues to develop players who make an impact on the senior stage. Ouazane’s rapid rise — from academy prospect to starter and international call-up — is the kind of story that keeps supporters watching both domestic league fixtures and European nights.
With Ajax now hovering behind Feyenoord in the Eredivisie, attention will turn to whether Sanchez’s side can maintain momentum across competitions. The blend of youth and experience, exemplified by Ouazane’s finishing and Ter Stegen’s composure in goal, will be central to their campaign as the season progresses.
