Stuttgart and Ajax Clash in Thrilling 2-2 Friendly
Stuttgart and Ajax played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in a pre-season friendly on Friday, with both teams showing glimpses of their quality in an open and attacking contest.
Stuttgart's Bright Start
Stuttgart, under new coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, started brightly and took the lead in the 10th minute through Orel Mangala. The Belgian midfielder fired home from the edge of the box after good work from Silas Wamangituka down the left flank.
Ajax's Response
Ajax, who are preparing for their Champions League qualifier against APOEL next week, responded well to going behind and leveled the scores just seven minutes later. Antony, a summer signing from Sao Paulo, cut inside from the right and curled a fine shot into the far corner.
End-to-End Action
The game continued to be played at a high tempo, with both teams creating chances. Stuttgart had the better of the possession in the first half, but Ajax looked dangerous on the break. The Dutch side took the lead for the first time in the 55th minute when Ryan Gravenberch headed home from a corner.
Stuttgart's Late Equalizer
Stuttgart refused to give up and they equalized for the second time in the 80th minute through Sasa Kalajdzic. The Austrian striker headed home from close range after good work from Silas. The game ended 2-2, with both teams showing plenty of promise ahead of the new season.
Stuttgart's New Look
Stuttgart have made a number of changes to their squad this summer, with Matarazzo bringing in a number of new faces. The German coach is keen to implement a more attacking style of play, and the team showed glimpses of that in this game. They were particularly impressive in the first half, when they created a number of chances and took the lead.
Ajax's Strength in Depth
Ajax have a strong squad with plenty of depth, and they were able to rotate their players throughout the game without losing their quality. New signing Antony impressed with his skill and creativity, while Gravenberch showed his ability to score goals from midfield. Ajax will be confident of making a good run in the Champions League this season.
Conclusion
This was a thrilling friendly between two well-matched teams. Stuttgart and Ajax both showed glimpses of their quality, and they will be confident of having successful seasons.
Stuttgart will be looking to build on this performance when they start their Bundesliga campaign next month, while Ajax will be hoping to make a good start to their Champions League qualifying campaign.
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