Hajduk's Juniors Led Until the 80th Minute, Ajax Snatched Victory
Hari Vukas's young squad drew 2:2 with Ajax in the second round of the tournament. Goals for the Whites were scored by Toni Ruso and Ante Bralić.
Hari Vukas's young squad drew 2:2 with Ajax in the second round of the tournament. Goals for the Whites were scored by Toni Ruso and Ante Bralić.
Hajduk's young footballers played out a 2:2 draw against Ajax in the second round of the Mladen Ramljak Memorial Tournament. Coach Hari Vukas's team had victory in their hands until the final minute of the match, but the Dutch side managed to secure a draw with a goal in the 80th minute.
The match was dynamic from the very start. As early as the 9th minute, Ajax threatened after a run down the wing and a dangerous cross, but the Dutch were off target in the finish. The punishment came in the Whites' next attack. Nachbar saved the ball with a selfless sliding tackle and delivered it into the six-yard box, where Toni Ruso reacted best in the scramble and slammed the ball into the net to give Hajduk the lead.
Hajduk's joy was short-lived. Just three minutes later, Ajax equalized through Teuwsen, who reacted superbly to a low ball and beat goalkeeper Pocrnjić. The same player almost scored a second goal before the break, but Pocrnjić saved his awkward shot after a combination with Nas. Until the end of the first half, which lasted 40 minutes, Hajduk pressed through Bokan, Juričić, and Nachbar, but the score remained 1:1.
In the second half, coach Vukas started with the same lineup, and in the 50th minute he brought on Ante Bralić, Modrić, and Bistra. That decision soon proved crucial. After a cross from Bistra that caught Ajax's goalkeeper off guard, Bralić was left at the far post and scored from two meters out to give the Whites the lead again.
The imposing striker, who Sportske novosti estimate to be over 190 centimeters tall, caused major problems for Ajax's tired defense with his strength and long strides on the counter. It was he who had the chance to seal the win in the 71st minute. After dribbling through almost half the pitch, his shot went over the bar.
The missed chances in the final stages proved costly for Hajduk. In the 80th minute, practically in the last attack of the match, De Baat headed home for the final 2:2, earning a point for the Dutch side, which was made up mostly of players born in 2009.
Recall that in the first round of the Mladen Ramljak Tournament, Hajduk defeated Bologna, with goals from Mateo Juričić and Lovro Maglica.
