Just as Tijmen rolled the opening pass to Amani, the faint drizzle over Amsterdam finally ceased, leaving the pitch at Sportcomplex De Toekomst slick and gleaming under the muted April sunlight. It was a cool afternoon, around eight degrees Celsius, and the damp air held an edge that sharpened every movement, every breath. The game was bumped from 60 minutes to 90 minutes for the final.
On commentary duty, a duo of broadcasters set the scene in live, energetic tones. "Welcome to De Toekomst for the Future Cup final. It's Ajax versus FC Utrecht U17, and what a setting we have – cool winds, dew on the grass, and two talented teams ready to battle," the play-by-play commentator announced, his voice echoing across televisions and the stadium PA.
Beside him, the co-commentator, a former player turned pundit, added, "This is a showcase of Dutch youth football. Keep an eye on number 37 for Utrecht, Amani, the creative midfielder who's been turning heads this tournament." In the press area, Abigail, Utrecht's academy journalist, flipped open her notebook with a determined smile, ready to chronicle every moment for the fans back home.
Up in the VIP section, Ruud Gullit leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed thoughtfully on the figure at the heart of Utrecht's midfield, Amani Hamadi. Ever the careful observer, Gullit had watched countless talents rise and fall over decades of football. Yet, something about this young player from Malindi intrigued him deeply.
As the teams took their positions, the commentators rattled off the lineup. Utrecht deployed their 4-2-3-1 formation: Malik stationed on the left wing, Van der Heyden on the right, and Amani in the central attacking midfield (CAM) role just behind striker Tijmen. The midfield was anchored by the double pivot of Amrabat and Dani, tasked with shielding the defense and feeding Amani whenever possible.
"Utrecht will rely on Amani to link play," noted the co-commentator. "Ajax knows that and will try to smother him early." Indeed, Ajax's own lineup was stacked with talent, their midfielder Branco van den Boomen loomed as a threat on set pieces, and their front line brimmed with pace and confidence from Donny Van de Beek. With a shrill blast of the referee's whistle, the final kicked off, and the war began.
Right from kickoff, Ajax made their intentions clear, pressing aggressively high up the pitch, their iconic red-and-white shirts swarming forward to suffocate Utrecht's opening build-up. Within seconds, the ball was at Amani's feet, arriving swiftly from Tijmen's simple opening pass. Immediately, two Ajax midfielders converged, cutting off angles while an urgent instruction from the Ajax bench pierced the cool Amsterdam air: "Push him onto his right! Close his left!"
They had done their homework, believing Amani's right foot was his weaker side, and were determined to exploit it. The Ajax midfielder approached rapidly, expecting hesitation, anticipating panic. But Amani felt no such fear, only clarity. He sensed the pressure and, rather than shifting onto his more familiar left foot, deliberately welcomed the challenge.
With seamless fluidity, Amani cushioned the incoming pass with the inside of his left boot, gently redirecting it across his body to the right. Ajax's pressing midfielder lunged forward, expecting an awkward touch or hesitation, but was instead left grasping air. In one elegant, sweeping motion, Amani pivoted smoothly and with perfect precision, stroked a crisp, authoritative pass out to Malik, stationed wide on the left flank.
The Ajax bench fell momentarily silent, taken aback by the sheer composure and confidence displayed on what they'd assumed was a weaker foot. The lead commentator's voice crackled excitedly through the broadcast: "Beautifully done by Amani, so calm under pressure and on that supposed 'weak' right foot! Ajax tried to trap him, but he's shown them he has no weaker side."
His co-commentator chuckled appreciatively, adding, "Well, Ajax might need to rethink their tactics. Clearly, Amani is comfortable using both feet equally well as it seems. Impressive start from Utrecht's number 37."
Amani jogged forward, already scanning the pitch for his next move, quietly determined to continue dismantling the narrative that he possessed any sort of limitation.
Utrecht settled nervously into possession. It looked like Elite composure was not working, aware of Ajax's aggressive press. Every touch had to be quick, every decision quicker. In the opening minutes, passes from the boys in black-and-orange sometimes went astray under the suffocating pressure.
An Ajax forward nearly intercepted a back-pass, drawing a collective gasp from the crowd. In the stands, Ruud Gullit leaned forward, intrigued by the tactical chess match unfolding. Abigail's pen raced across her notebook: "5' – Ajax pressing high, trying to choke off midfield. Amani staying composed, offering options."
Indeed, Amani worked tirelessly to disrupt Ajax's relentless press, dropping deep alongside his central midfielders, constantly offering himself as a calm outlet to relieve pressure. At one point, he drifted gracefully toward the right touchline to receive a throw-in, effortlessly cushioning the ball with a delicate right-footed flick that completely wrong-footed the charging Ajax marker, bringing a ripple of appreciative applause from the stands.
With each confident touch and purposeful pass, his Elite Composure subtly seeped into his teammates, a quiet yet powerful reassurance that began steadying their nerves.
Yet, Ajax's intensity refused to wane. Their players flowed forward instinctively, pressing as a unified force: one aggressively closing down the ball, another swiftly blocking passing angles, a third already reading Utrecht's next move. Utrecht's midfield trio Amani, Amrabat, and Dani found themselves in a constant tactical dance, adjusting positions to keep shape under relentless pressure.
But gradually, something shifted. Influenced by Amani's quiet, determined composure from Elite Composure, Sofyan Amrabat began timing his tackles with more precision, sliding in with controlled aggression rather than desperation. Dani, now mirroring Amani's calm scanning of the field, intercepted Ajax's intricate passing combinations with growing clarity, calmly distributing the ball rather than rushing passes.
Even as Ajax continued pushing fiercely, the commentators noted the subtle but important change in Utrecht's demeanor. "Ajax remain relentless," the lead commentator acknowledged, "but watch closely Utrecht are finding their footing now. Amani's calmness is contagious."
On the wings, Malik no longer winced or shied away after tough physical challenges from Ajax's fullbacks. Instead, inspired by his captain's quiet resolve, he stood firm, absorbing tackles and quickly springing back to his feet. Likewise, Van der Heyden started anticipating the robust challenges thrown at him, gracefully skipping over sliding tackles rather than hurriedly evading them.
The referee continued allowing the robust play to flow, recognizing the passion and high stakes of this intense final. And through it all, Amani remained the composed heartbeat at the center of Utrecht's growing confidence, quietly spreading his elite composure across the team, each touch and pass reinforcing the belief that Ajax's relentless storm could indeed be weathered.
10 minutes in, Ajax's dominance nearly paid off. A Utrecht pass was picked off in midfield by an Ajax player who anticipated Dani's attempt to find Amani. With Utrecht caught forward, Ajax sprang forward in a lightning counterattack. Their fleet-footed winger dashed into space down the left.
Amani spun around and sprinted back, shouting for defenders to cover, but Ajax's transition was too quick. The Ajax winger skipped past a desperate lunge from a Utrecht fullback, then cut inside the penalty area. Utrecht's center-backs scrambled to close him down, leaving an unmarked runner at the far post. In a heartbeat, the winger squared a low pass across the face of the goal.
Ajax's striker met it in stride and slammed the ball into the net from six yards out before the goalkeeper could even react. The stadium erupted in cheers from the Ajax supporters. "Goal! Ajax strike first in the final!" the commentator roared above the noise. "A devastating counterattack and it's 1-0 to the hosts."
The co-commentator's tone was one of impressed respect: "Textbook counter from Ajax. Utrecht were caught pushing up and paid the price. That's the clinical edge Ajax are known for at any level." On the sideline, the Ajax bench jumped to their feet in celebration, while the Utrecht coaches exchanged worried glances.
Abigail exhaled sharply and made a quick note: "13' - Ajax goal. Caught on the break… uphill battle now."
Near the VIP section, Ruud Gullit applauded politely at the quality of Ajax's goal, his expression neutral. On the pitch, Utrecht's players regrouped, Tijmen running a frustrated hand through his hair, Malik staring down at his boots.
Sensing the threat of demoralization, Amani immediately clapped his hands and gathered his teammates. He patted Tijmen firmly on the back, calling out clearly over the noise, "Heads up, we're still in this!" Amrabat jogged over, bumping fists with his captain, their determined eyes locking for a brief, powerful moment. Amani's posture, his chest forward and chin raised, sent a clear message: Don't fold. We fight on.
Watching closely, a slow, appreciative smile crept onto Gullit's lips. It was the composure of the young midfielder that impressed him most. No panic, no fluster even amid Ajax's relentless pressure, Amani stood tall, radiating a quiet confidence and maturity rare even in seasoned professionals, let alone a boy on the cusp of his football journey.
"Yes," Gullit murmured softly to himself, settling back comfortably into his seat with newfound interest, "this one might truly be different."
Play resumed, with Utrecht trying to regain a foothold. Ajax, buoyed by the lead, continued to play with swagger. Their midfield trio knocked the ball around confidently, probing for another opening. Branco began to dictate play from his deeper midfield role, spraying passes wide with impressive vision.
Utrecht endured a tense spell, nearly conceding again when a long diagonal found an Ajax forward behind the defense – his volley from the right flew just over the bar to a chorus of "Oooh!" from the crowd. "Ajax are smelling blood here," warned the co-commentator. "Utrecht need to be very careful. A second goal before half-time could be disastrous for them." Down on the touchline, Utrecht's coach motioned for his team to stay compact.
Gradually, Utrecht found a brief rhythm despite the onslaught. Amani was at the heart of it, forever showing for the ball. In one sequence, he received a pass under pressure near the center circle and deftly spun away from his marker – notably using a left-footed drag-back to maintain control – then threaded a diagonal pass to Van der Heyden on the right wing.
The crowd appreciated the skill with a ripple of applause. Van der Heyden pushed forward, but an Ajax defender quickly closed him, forcing a retreat. Rather than panic, Utrecht worked the ball back through Dani and Amrabat, who then found Amani once more.
Amani's calming influence was palpable; with a few clever touches and smart distribution, he began disrupting the flow of Ajax's press. The high press was still there, but now Utrecht was finding tiny pockets of space through quick one-twos orchestrated by their number 37.
Just as Utrecht started to build some possession, a foul halted their momentum. In the 25th minute, Amrabat lunged to win a loose ball and accidentally caught Ajax's attacking midfielder instead. The whistle blew, and the referee awarded Ajax a free kick about twenty-five meters from goal, slightly to the right of center – a very dangerous position.
The Utrecht players' protests were mild; it was a fair call. As the teams lined up, a hush fell over the ground and a sense of dread filled the air for the trailing side. Abigail looked up from her notes, heart thumping. Not another one… she thought, knowing Ajax's reputation on set pieces.
Sure enough, Branco stepped up to take the free kick for Ajax. The Ajax captain was known for his technique and had already scored a couple of spectacular goals in the tournament. He placed the ball with care, adjusting it with his right foot until it sat perfectly on the tuft of grass.
Utrecht's goalkeeper shouted at his wall, arranging three players – Amani among them – to cover the near post. Amani stood tall on the end of the wall, arms crossed over his groin and eyes fixed on van den Boomen. The chill in the wind seemed to intensify as van den Boomen began his run-up.
He struck the ball with his right instep, and it was immediately clear he'd hit it well. The ball whipped up and over the wall with pace, then dipped abruptly. Amani turned his head just in time to see it curl past the outstretched fingers of his goalkeeper and into the top left corner of the net. The net bulged violently. Goal. Ajax 2, Utrecht 0.
For a second, there was silence and then a collective moment of awe at the quality of the strike – then the Ajax supporters broke into delirious cheers and applause. "What a goal! Branco van den Boomen doubles Ajax's lead with a stunning free kick!" the commentator shouted, his excitement reverberating.
"Absolutely inch-perfect – up over the wall and down into the The keeper had no chance," added the co-commentator emphatically, referencing the midfielder's known set-piece prowess. Even Ruud Gullit couldn't hide his admiration; he rose slightly in his seat, clapping with a broad grin as he turned to an Ajax official beside him, clearly impressed by the young captain's technique.
On the pitch, the Utrecht players were shell-shocked. One of the defenders kicked the ground in frustration. Tijmen stood, hands on hips at the halfway line, looking at the ball nestled in the net as if it were a bad dream. Amani closed his eyes for a brief moment, absorbing the blow.
Two goals down in the first half against Ajax – this was the very scenario Utrecht had feared. In the commentary box, the pundit's tone turned sympathetic: "2–0 now, and you worry for Utrecht. They've been on the back foot since kickoff. Ajax's quality is really showing. It's a long way back for the boys in orange and black."
Abigail swallowed hard, forcing herself to jot down the details: "28' – Goal Ajax. Branco van den Boomen free kick. Sublime strike. 0–2." Her pencil pressed a little harder into the page than before.
But even amid Ajax's celebrations, Amani's flame had not been extinguished. As his teammates trudged back for the kickoff, Amani jogged from the wall to retrieve the ball out of the net himself. Clutching it under his arm, he locked eyes with a few of his fellow Utrecht players and shouted, "Come on! Let's keep our heads up – we can pull one back!"
There was a steel in his voice that cut through the despondency. Malik and Van der Heyden nodded, drawing in deep breaths. Amrabat clenched a fist and gently punched Amani's shoulder in solidarity as he ran past to reset for the kickoff. The gesture was clear: We're with you.
Up in the stands, a few Utrecht supporters started a chant to rally their boys, their voices fighting the wind. Ruud Gullit, now seated again, watched Amani intently as the young playmaker placed the ball at the center circle for the restart. "Despite the scoreline, look at Amani," the co-commentator noted, picking up on the teenager's body language.
"He's urging his team on, taking responsibility. That's what you want from your number 10 when you're down – character and leadership." The play-by-play commentator agreed, "Utrecht need inspiration from somewhere. If they can grab a goal before halftime, it's game on. Otherwise, Ajax will run away with this."
As the referee's whistle signaled the restart, and under the cold April sky, the first half was not yet over, and also Amani's story was just beginning.
AJAX U17 2-0 FC UTRECHT U17
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