Nigeria striker Chuba Akpom came off the bench to score in Ajax Amsterdam’s 2-0 away win against Heerenveen in the Dutch Eredivisie on Sunday.
His goal, the second of the game, sealed the win for Ajax as they kept the pressure on PSV Eindhoven at the top of the table.
Ajax took the lead in the 20th minute when centre-back Josip Šutalo scored to set them on the path to victory.
There were no more goals in the first half, and for most of the second, the game was a back-and-forth affair between both sides.
However, Akpom, who had come on as a substitute in the 73rd minute, popped up with a header from a corner kick to secure the win for Ajax.
The goal marked the 29-year-old forward’s third of the season.
The win leaves Ajax in second place on the league table, just one point behind leaders PSV after 19 games.
Akpom’s performance against Heerenveen
Akpom entered the game in the second half, replacing Mika Godts in the 73rd minute, and made an instant impact by scoring a crucial goal.
He spent 21 minutes on the pitch, during which he registered one shot on target and had another blocked.
The Nigerian forward attempted one dribble, but was unsuccessful.
In his cameo, he managed 18 touches and completed six of the nine passes he attempted, resulting in a pass accuracy of 67%.
Akpom excelled in aerial duels, winning all four headers he contested, while on the ground, he won two of the three duels he engaged in.
Additionally, he contributed defensively by making two successful tackles, capping off a memorable day for the striker.
