Ajax thrashed Celtic 5-1 on Thursday in a friendly tournament in Como, Italy. Thanks in part to two goals from Steven Berghuis and a beautiful strike from Aaron Bouwman, the Amsterdam team won 5-1.
Ajax took the lead after fifteen minutes thanks to Berghuis, who found the far corner with a beautiful shot. However, trainer John Heitinga’s team went into halftime with a 1-1 score. After a splitting pass, the Ajax defense was completely open and Celtic striker Yang Hyun-jun scored.
After halftime, Ajax distanced themselves from Celtic. Davy Klaassen scored on the rebound after a good play by the newly substituted Mika Godts. Ten minutes later, Klaassen assisted Berghuis’ second goal of the evening.
The most beautiful goal in Como was scored by Bouwman. The seventeen-year-old defender, who had again been given a starting spot by Heitinga, scored with a fine distance shot. He was immediately substituted after that. Rayane Bounida determined the final score at 5-1 just before the end.
Wout Weghorst, Kenneth Taylor and Jorrel Hato were missing from the match selection for Ajax. Weghorst struggled with a minor injury, while Taylor and Hato have only been in training for three days. Taylor and Hato are also coveted by FC Porto and Chelsea respectively.
Ajax will play the final of the so-called Como Cup against host Como on Sunday at 8 p.m. The club is trained by the Spanish former top footballer Cesc Fàbregas and finished tenth in Serie A last season.