Chuba Akpom Shines as Ajax Fights Back to Draw with Stuttgart
Chuba Akpom started 2025 with a key goal as Ajax came from two goals behind to draw 2-2 with VfB Stuttgart in a friendly match at the Robert-Schlienz-Stadion.
Akpom, who came on in the second half, scored a calm goal to equalize for Ajax five minutes before the final whistle.
Stuttgart began strong, taking a 2-0 lead within the first 20 minutes. Angelo Stiller scored in the 13th minute after a perfect pass from Chris Führich. Then, Führich scored himself to double Stuttgart’s advantage.
Ajax had a slow start, with their only first-half chance coming from Bertrand Traoré.
The game changed after halftime, with Ajax making several substitutions. Daniele Rugani, the only starter to stay on, scored a goal from a free-kick in the 52nd minute, which was later ruled as an own goal by Stuttgart’s Julian Chabot.
The game got a bit heated when Ajax’s Davy Klaassen was shown a red card for a late tackle. However, after talking with the managers, Klaassen was allowed to stay on the field.
As Stuttgart’s energy faded, Ajax gained confidence. In the 85th minute, Akpom found space in the box and finished a low cross from Owen Wijndal to make it 2-2.
The match went into 15 extra minutes, but neither team could score again.
Stuttgart’s coach, Sebastian Hoeneß, said he was pleased with his team’s performance in the first half. Ajax’s coach, Francesco Farioli, will be happy with his team’s fightback as they prepare for their next league games.
