Jong Ajax drew 1-1 with Jong PSV in a preparatory friendly ahead of this weekend's Eredivisie showdown. The youth teams of AFC Ajax and PSV Eindhoven played out an even contest in Eindhoven that served as a warm-up for the senior squads.
This practice match was reported by NOS Sport. Emre Ünüvar opened the scoring for the Ajax youngsters, but Austyn Jones equalized later from the penalty spot. The penalty was awarded after a foul on Amir Bouhamdi. Both goalkeepers, Nick Olij for Jong Ajax and Joeri Heerkens for Jong PSV, made important saves during the match.
How did the match unfold?
The encounter in Eindhoven was evenly balanced throughout. Jong Ajax took the lead through Emre Ünüvar, who finished his chance calmly. The Amsterdam side tried to hold onto their advantage but ran into trouble after a foul in the penalty area. Amir Bouhamdi of Jong PSV was brought down, prompting referee Jasper van der Kooij to point to the spot.
Austyn Jones took responsibility and converted the penalty, restoring parity. In the closing stages, both teams pushed for a winner, but the goalkeepers stood firm. Nick Olij demonstrated his quality with several sharp reflexes, while Joeri Heerkens was equally important at the other end.
What does this mean for the first team?
The friendly explicitly served as preparation for the clash between the senior teams of AFC Ajax and PSV. That match is scheduled for Saturday at the Johan Cruijff ArenA. Ajax currently sits fourth in the Eredivisie with seven points from three matches. The team has won twice and drawn once, boasting a goal difference of plus six.
The Amsterdam side trails leader AZ Alkmaar by five points. PSV occupies second place, making them direct rivals in the table. The upcoming match against the Eindhoven team is therefore significant for title aspirations. You can check the current league table on our standings page.
Who will Ajax miss against PSV?
A notable absentee from the preparations is Youri Regeer. The midfielder is currently injured and will be unavailable for the crucial match against PSV. His absence requires adjustments in coach John van 't Schip's midfield setup.
The Ajax squad has scored eight goals this season while conceding only twice. That defensive solidity will be tested against an attacking PSV side. The complete team roster is available on our squad overview.
What are the next steps?
All focus now shifts to Saturday, September 5th, when PSV Eindhoven visits Amsterdam. It will be a direct confrontation between the second and fourth-placed teams in the league. Ajax hopes to use home advantage to close the gap on the leaders.
The match kicks off at 6:45 PM and will be broadcast live. For the complete schedule of upcoming weeks, you can visit our fixtures calendar. The final training sessions before the match will take place on Friday.
