Wout Weghorst will likely want to erase every memory of his nightmare evening at Stamford Bridge. The Dutch forward was the only bright spot for Ajax Amsterdam, scoring their lone goal in a humiliating 1-5 defeat against Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League group stage on Thursday (October 23, 2025, early morning WIB).
A Rough Start for Ajax
The game began in disastrous fashion for the Dutch giants. Within just 30 minutes, Chelsea stormed ahead 2-0 courtesy of quick strikes from young forward Marc Guiu and midfield powerhouse Moises Caicedo. Ajax looked disjointed and unable to cope with the Premier League side’s high pressing.
Weghorst gave Ajax a brief glimmer of hope when he calmly converted a penalty to make it 2-1, bringing the visitors back into contention. But that moment of joy was painfully short-lived.
Blood, Mistakes, and More Misery
Only three minutes after scoring, Weghorst suffered a painful head injury when he was accidentally struck by Tosin Adarabioyo’s boot during an aerial challenge. Blood streamed down his forehead as medical staff rushed onto the pitch to treat him — an image that summed up Ajax’s misfortunes on the night.
Moments later, disaster struck again. In an unfortunate twist, Weghorst was penalized for a clumsy foul on Enzo Fernández inside the box. The Argentine midfielder made no mistake from the spot, restoring Chelsea’s two-goal cushion at 3-1.
To make matters worse, Weghorst received a yellow card shortly before Estevão, the teenage Brazilian sensation, scored Chelsea’s fourth of the night. From the stands, home supporters mocked Weghorst, cruelly chanting that he was a “failed version of Andy Carroll.”
Subbed Off, but the Pain Continued
By halftime, Ajax’s morale was shattered. Weghorst was substituted before the start of the second half, his bloody head and bruised ego symbolizing Ajax’s collapse. But even without him, things didn’t get any better for the visitors.
Just three minutes into the second half, Tyrique George added Chelsea’s fifth goal, sealing a dominant 5-1 victory for the London club. Ajax could only watch as the Blues celebrated their most convincing Champions League win of the season.
A Historical Low for Ajax
This defeat marked one of the darkest nights in Ajax’s European history. The team, led by John Heitinga, remains pointless after three matches, following earlier defeats to Inter Milan (0-2) and Marseille (0-4).
Even more painfully, Ajax made unwanted history — conceding four goals in the first half of a European fixture for the first time since 1958, when they were thrashed by Hungarian side Vasas SC.
Chelsea’s Redemption, but Not Without Flaws
On the opposite side, Chelsea fans finally had something to cheer about. The victory lifted the Blues to six points from three matches, keeping their hopes alive for a place in the Round of 16. It was also a statement response after a 1-3 defeat to Bayern Munich and a narrow 1-0 win over Benfica.
However, the emphatic victory wasn’t entirely spotless — Joao Pedro received a red card in the second half, slightly tainting Chelsea’s otherwise dominant display. Meanwhile, Ajax’s misery deepened as Kenneth Taylor was also sent off in the 17th minute, leaving his teammates with a numerical disadvantage for most of the match.
Weghorst’s Rough Return to the Spotlight
For Wout Weghorst, once a Premier League striker with Manchester United and Burnley, this was a night to forget. His effort, determination, and solitary goal couldn’t hide the fact that he was at the center of Ajax’s unraveling — from his bleeding head to his defensive blunder that gifted Chelsea a penalty.
As Ajax looks to recover in their next fixture, Weghorst and his teammates will have to regroup quickly if they want to keep their slim hopes of qualification alive. For now, though, Stamford Bridge will remain a haunting memory — one painted in blood, frustration, and bitter defeat.
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