Super Sub Mohammed Kudus Provides Crucial Assist for Ajax

Ghana international Mohammed Kudus climbed off the bench to provide an assist in Ajax Amsterdam’s narrow one-nil win over NEC Nijmegen in the Dutch Eredivisie.

Kudus was introduced into the game with five minutes to spare by incoming Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag as he searched for a win.

And his substitution proved to be a masterstroke as Kudus provided the assist for Dutch-born forward of Ghanaian heritage Brian Brobbey three minutes after his introduction.

Kudus’ Ajax went into the game against NEC Nijmegen fresh from the Dutch Cup final loss to fierce rivals PSV Eindhoven last Sunday.

How did Ajax beat a resilient NEC Nijmegen? Determined to brush aside their cup defeat, Ajax started on the front foot but talisman Dusan Tadic wasted an opportunity to put the Amsterdam giants in the lead when his penalty was saved by Mattijs Branderhorst.

It threatened to be a frustrating afternoon once again but coach Ten Hag reshuffled his cards in the second half and brought on Brobbey at the start of the second half. Ajax kept on probing but to no avail until Kudus was thrown into the thick of affairs in the 85th minute to unlock the defence of Nijmegen.

And Kudus did exactly that when he linked up with fellow substitute Brian Brobbey, who scored what will prove to be the match-winner in the 88th minute.

Mohammed Kudus will hope his cameo will convince Erik Ten Hag to hand him more game time with four games left in the season.