Ajax U23 produced a roller-coaster performance in Brabant on Friday evening, coming from behind to rescue a 3-3 draw at TOP Oss in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie.
First-half control, second-half turnaround
The Amsterdam youngsters dominated the opening 45 minutes and led 2-0 at the break after a composed team display. The first goal arrived after just over 25 minutes when a cross from the left found Leo Salazar at the far post; the Spaniard met the ball out of the air to open the scoring.
Before half-time Ajax U23 almost doubled the lead when Jano Monserrate struck the crossbar from a free kick around 20 metres. Monserrate, however, made his mark soon after by delivering the assist for the second goal, reaching the byline and teeing up Emre Ünüvar, who converted from close range to make it 0-2.
TOP Oss fight back
The match turned in the second half. TOP Oss struck early after the interval when Ajax keeper Joeri Heerkens failed to clear a high ball on two occasions; striker Andy Visser capitalised to halve the deficit. Momentum shifted decisively in favour of the hosts as they pressed for more.
TOP Oss completed the turnaround through a strike from Maxim Mariani and a second from Visser, who restored the lead at 3-2 in the 75th minute. From that point it looked as though the home side would take the three points.
Stoppage-time drama
Late drama arrived in stoppage time when Ajax introduced several substitutes. The decisive moment came from 18-year-old substitute Abdoulaye Camara, who stepped up to take a free kick from approximately 25 metres in the second minute of added time. Camara curled the ball with the inside of his foot into the top corner with power and precision, drawing gasps from the Oss crowd and sparking celebration among the Ajax bench.
"His late but stunning goal sparked celebrations among the Ajax U23 players," the club report said.
The leveller ensured the teams shared the spoils in a match that swung between control and chaos.
Lineups and key details
The Ajax U23 side that travelled to Oss featured a mixture of starters and late substitutions as the coaching staff looked to manage minutes and give younger players valuable competition time.
| Final score | TOP Oss 3-3 Ajax U23 |
|---|---|
| Scorers (Ajax U23) | Salazar (27'), Ünüvar (42'), Camara (90+2') |
| Key substitutes | Camara (introduced, 82'), Simeon (69') |
- Ajax U23 led 0-2 at half-time thanks to Salazar and Ünüvar.
- TOP Oss came back with goals from Visser (two) and Mariani to lead 3-2.
- Abdoulaye Camara's stoppage-time free kick rescued a 3-3 draw.
The result keeps Ajax U23 competitive in the division while offering encouraging signs about the squad's depth: the side showed attacking threat early and character to fight back late. For supporters watching the development pipeline at Ajax, the performance highlighted promising moments from several young players — notably Salazar, Monserrate, Ünüvar and Camara — who may press for more minutes as the season progresses.
Match details and the club's official report were provided by AFC Ajax's match coverage for the Keuken Kampioen Divisie fixture on 23 October 2026.
