Wolves 1 Ajax 1 – Report and pictures
Wolves came from behind to draw 1-1 with Ajax at the Banks's Stadium as their pre-season preparations continued.
Ajax took the lead on the stroke of half time through a placed shot from Donny van de Beek.
Wolves created chances for Diogo Jota, Ivan Cavaleiro and Matt Doherty and deservedly equalised when Neves scored from the spot after Helder Costa was fouled.
Analysis
That's three teams with strong European pedigree faced so far this summer – and still Wolves remain unbeaten.
In fact they should have kept up their 100 per cent after edging Ajax for most of this game, writes Tim Spiers at the Banks's Stadium.
Young Boys, Basel and Ajax have 65 domestic titles between them. More pertinently they all finished in the top two of their domestic top flight last season and have played Wolves just a week and a bit, or a few days, before their season starts with either a league match or a Champions League qualifier.
In Ajax's case that's a Champions League match next Wednesday and the Dutch team, despite splitting their first team squad with Thursday evening's match at the same stadium against Walsall in mind, provided Wolves with their toughest test of pre-season so far.
That's definitely a good thing for Nuno's team who had to recover from a slow start – and then come from a goal down – to earn a deserved draw here.
They played their way into it and produced something akin to the easy-on-the-eye football we all enjoyed last season.
Again the front three enjoyed a productive afternoon and again they were fairly solid defensively, save for the Ajax goal which was poorly conceded.
Ruben Neves pulled his strings, Ryan Giles was busy down the left flank and Ivan Cavaleiro, Helder Costa and Diogo Jota all produced moments of magic.
On to Germany this weekend then and more top flight opposition in the former of Bochum, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Real Betis.
Wolves continue to look on track for August 11.
Match report
Nuno selected a strong XI, with Will Norris getting the nod over John Ruddy in goal. Rui Patricio was officially named amongst the substitutes but watched the game in the stands alongside Leo Bonatini who missed out.
Barry Douglas was again sidelined with a muscle strain and his absence plus Ruben Vinagre's continued involvement in the U19s European Championship meant youngster Ryan Giles got another chance to impress at left wing back.
Ajax named former Real Madrid striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar up front as they split their squad between this game and a clash with Walsall a few hours later. New signing from Manchester United, Daley Blind, was on the bench.
The Dutch giants begin their season next Wednesday with a Champions League qualifier and they took the game to Wolves from the off with some attractive football in the final third, pegging Nuno's team back without creating any decent chances.
Wolves gradually grew into the game with their front three beginning to link productively. Ryan Giles and Matt Doherty provided adequate width on the flanks with the Shropshire youngster in particular catching the eye as he bombed down the flank, having the confidence to take his man on and head for the byline.
Wolves began to create some opportunities, with Ivan Cavaleiro firing one at keeper Andre Onana and then Diogo Jota heading a Cavaleiro corner goalwards only to see it cleared just ahead of the goal-line.
Ruben Neves began to influence matter and he produced a perfect through ball for Jota to latch onto – the Portuguese forward lacked an instinctive finish though and Onana smothered at his feet.
Doherty crashed one over the bar after another good overlap as Wolves dominated, but then on the stroke of half time Ajax took the lead against the run of play when Donny van de Beek cut inside Morgan Gibbs-White and placed a curled left-footed shot past Norris into the corner.
That was that for a 45 minutes which lacked genuine quality but saw some decent individual displays with Giles, Neves, Doherty and Jota the busiest. Wolves did lack the fluency they'd shown in Switzerland, albeit against better opposition.
Ruddy replaced Norris at half time while Blind came on for his first Ajax appearance since his £18m switch from Old Trafford.
Wolves picked up the pace in search of an equaliser with Cavaleiro and Costa at the heart of most of their good play. They won a couple of corners and set pieces which Ajax dealt with and then keeper Onana was fortunate to get a second chance to bundle clear after letting a Jota cross slip straight through his fingers.
Jota then came close to scoring a deserved equaliser on the hour mark when he headed Doherty's clipped cross just past the post.
With 20 left on the clock Nuno made three changes with Romain Saiss, back in training this week, getting his first outing of pre-season at right-sided centre half. Midfielder Pedro Goncalves and striker Benny Ashley-Seal were also introduced, with Ryan Bennett, Gibbs-White and Cavaleiro replaced.
Jota wasn't far off again when his low shot was saved by the keeper. And then with 16 minutes remaining Wolves' equaliser finally arrived – Costa was brought down inside the box and Neves stepped up to roll the ball past the keeper from the spot.
Wolves' remaining subs then entered the fray for the final six minutes, just after Ruddy did well to deny David Neres from close range.
One of the new substitutes Rafa Mir saw his cross deflected just behind and then, from the resulting corner, another sub Danny Batth had a header plucked from the air by Onana.
That was the last of the action as the two teams settled for a draw.
Teams
Wolves (3-4-3): Norris (Ruddy, 45); Bennett (Saiss, 71), Coady (c) (Batth, 84), Boly (Hause, 84); Doherty, Neves (Watt, 84), Gibbs-White (Goncalves, 71), Giles (John, 84); Cavaleiro (Ashley-Seal, 71), Jota (Mir, 84), Costa (Enobakhare, 84).
Goals: Neves (pen, 74)
Ajax: Onana, Kristensen, De Jong (Blind, 45), De Ligt (de Wit, 79), Tagliafico, Van de Beek, Neres, Mazraoui (Jensen, 87), Huntelaar (Sierhuis, 84), Eiting, Lang. Subs: Van Bladeren, Bakboord.
Goals: Van de Beek (45)
Attendance: 3,328
Referee: Oliver Langford
Next up
Two 45-minute matches against two of Bochum, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Real Betis in the one-day H-Hotels Cup in Bochum, Germany on Sunday (1pm BST onwards).
