Ajax finally ended their winless run in the UEFA Champions League after producing a spirited comeback to defeat Qarabag 4-2 in Azerbaijan.
The Dutch giants, four-time European champions, had lost their previous five matches in the competition and looked set for another defeat when they trailed 2-1 late in the game. But a late surge changed the story completely.
Oscar Gloukh sparked Ajax’s revival with a stunning 20-yard strike in the 79th minute to make it 2-2, before Anton Gaaei powered home a first-time effort three minutes later to hand the visitors the lead. Gloukh then wrapped up the victory in the 90th minute with a composed finish into the bottom corner.
The result lifts Ajax off the bottom of the 36-team league table, though qualification for the knockout rounds remains unlikely. They can now reach a maximum of nine points, while last season’s qualification cut-off was 11.
Ajax’s Champions League campaign has been difficult, suffering heavy defeats to Marseille, Chelsea and Galatasaray earlier in the competition.
In a rain-soaked match in Baku, Qarabag opened the scoring in the 10th minute through Camilo Duran, who chipped the advancing goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros.
Kasper Dolberg levelled for Ajax before half-time with a brilliant long-range strike, but Matheus Silva restored Qarabag’s lead just after the break.
Despite the defeat, Qarabag remain on seven points and will face Eintracht Frankfurt before travelling to Liverpool in their remaining fixtures.
