In Ajax's first game since manager John Heitinga's dismissal, and days after the team's 3-0 UEFA Champions League loss to Galatasaray, caretaker boss Fred Grim handed youngster Gerald Alders his full debut at left-back. Icelandic winger Oliver Edvardsen was given his first start in the last five games.
Utrecht, who drew 1-1 to FC Porto in the UEFA Europa League last Thursday, started with former Ajax striker Sebastien Haller in the point of attack. Haller only played 29 minutes against Porto after failing to score all season.
An energetic start saw Kenneth Taylor and Miguel Rodriguez get early chances, but Utrecht dominated most of the opening half hour. Ajax seemed to take the lead nonetheless, when Wout Weghorst scored from a tough angle. However, after VAR advice, referee Danny Makkelie disallowed the goal for a foul by Lucas Rosa in the build-up.
Just a minute later, FC Utrecht actually took the lead via Matisse Didden, who headed home from a corner in the first minute of added time.
A couple of miscues cost Ajax dearly in the first half and again after the break. Mika Godts missed his shot at scoring the equaliser, after which Sebastien Haller scored his first goal of the season just three minutes later, heading in a free kick from Souffian El Karouani.
Ajax wasted little time coming up with a swift reply - Mika Godts fired in a beautiful shot from range, which Utrecht stopper Vasilis Barkas couldn't get a strong enough hand on.
Oscar Gloukh came close to the equaliser shortly after Godts' goal, but the midfielder saw his effort roll wide of Barkas' goal.
Miguel Rodriguez got the best shot at putting Utrecht up 3-1 after 74 minutes, but the Spaniard's close-range attempt from a rebound was expertly stopped by 42-year-old Remko Pasveer. Yoann Cathline added a third attempt to Utrecht's attack, but ended it by aiming it just wide of the post.
A wayward cross from Davy Klaassen and a shot from distance from Gerald Alders were all that Ajax had to offer in the final fifteen minutes, as the Amsterdam giants lost their second Eredivisie game of the season. FC Utrecht, meanwhile, beat Ajax at home for the third year in a row and closed the gap to the Amsterdam side to just one point.
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