Decisive figure from the spot sends Ajax through against Utrecht

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·24 May 2026

Decisive figure from the spot sends Ajax through against Utrecht

Maarten Paes decided the tie in the penalty shootout, saving two kicks as Ajax beat Utrecht on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Early on he steadied Ajax with low stops, reading crosses cleanly and gathering under pressure to keep Utrecht at arm's length.

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In the 26th minute of extra time he smothered Ángel Alarcón's one-on-one, narrowing the angle and forcing the game to penalties.

In the shootout he blocked Sébastien Haller's opening attempt, setting the tone, then denied Souffian El Karouani with the decisive save to clinch progression.

He finished with three saves in play, one high claim, 31 accurate passes and 13 recoveries, composure that helped Godenzonen build from the back and stay in control of key moments.