Revitalised Ajax start life under García with big win against Sparta

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ajax/8UOvIwnb/"]Ajax[/a] headed into their first weekend with Spaniard Óscar García as interim manager. The 52-year-old former FC Barcelona forward replaced Fred Grim after the latter's dismissal [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-eredivisie-ajax-fire-interim-manager-fred-grim-after-poor-run-oscar-garcia-to-take-over/fg4CKo8D/"]last Sunday[/a].[/p][p]Against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sparta-rotterdam/KK4FaFV3/"]Sparta Rotterdam[/a], the former Jong Ajax manager had to do without the suspended [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/weghorst-wout/tpWMDFoL/"]Wout Weghorst[/a] and the ailing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dolberg-kasper/C8C5vSB8/"]Kasper Dolberg[/a], who started on the bench due to stomach issues. Youngster [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/konadu-don-angelo/dYfJwtgp/"]Don-Angelo Konadu[/a] got the start as Ajax's striker, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/berghuis-steven/8vVtUw90/"]Steven Berghuis[/a] on his right. In the back, former Arsenal man [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tomiyasu-takehiro/OSNvjZSP/"]Takehiro Tomiyasu[/a] made his first competitive start since May 19th, 2024.[/p][image alt="Ajax manager Oscar García celebrates the 3-0 against Sparta Rotterdam" id="876e340d-8c6c-4216-843e-e74b5f5d3926" credit-line="ANP, ANP / Alamy / Profimedia" guid="62229517-5d39-42c0-84d3-a14be1c7f207" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][p]With the lower South side of the stadium empty due to a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-eredivisie-knvb-close-section-of-ajax-stadium-for-one-game-after-for-setting-off-fireworks/KQMjii5e/"]reprimand from the KNVB[/a], Sparta created the first big chance of the game when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lauritsen-tobias/Sxba1rmc/"]Tobias Lauritsen[/a] headed the ball towards [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/paes-maarten/QZUlDAhp/"]Maarten Paes[/a]' goal, but the Norwegian striker saw his effort fly just past the post.[/p][p]Ajax took over from Sparta and started creating more chances following the first 15 minutes. Steven Berghuis came close to the opener with a low shot, which rolled narrowly past [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/drommel-joel/UuJ6QXyI/"]Joël Drommel[/a]'s goal.[/p][p][b]Berghuis was Ajax's most dangerous factor and made his second start since September worthwhile by creating the 1-0 - the winger's free kick was deflected into Sparta's goal by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kitolano-joshua/0GqXi0Vj/"]Joshua Kitolano[/a], who gave Ajax the lead in the 19th minute.[/b][/p][p]Oscar García was handed a tough hand quickly, however, with midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/regeer-youri/fB0UN6SA/"]Youri Regeer[/a] seemingly picking up a severe hamstring injury in the first half. After limping off with support from a physical coach, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mokio-jorthy/lQdp4JnH/"]Jorthy Mokio[/a] replaced the 22-year-old.[/p][embed guid="44169829-83bc-417b-8c60-5e3048d046ef" url="https://x.com/ESPNnl/status/2032921971600556205?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]Takehiro Tomiyasu also made a positive impact and made his forward runs count by creating the 2-0, which Steven Berghuis scored with a rocket from close range.[/b][/p][p]Young Konadu got a dream chance to put the game beyond any doubt for Ajax, but the striker missed in front of an open goal.[/p][p][b]With time slowly running out for Ajax, García's side scored the 3-0 after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/godts-mika/CIrbY1Ml/"]Mika Godts[/a] launched captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/klaassen-davy/GpcTW1L2/"]Davy Klaassen[/a] into Sparta's half. The veteran calmly slotted the ball past Drommel to effectively close out the game.[/b][/p][p][b]The Amsterdam giants weren't done there, as the recovery under García took further shape with the 4-0 - Mika Godts took on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sambo-shurandy/Amv9Myos/"]Shurandy Sambo[/a] in a one-on-one and dribbled his way past the former Burnley defender to easily put the ball in the bottom left corner in the 76th minute.[/b][/p][p]A steady Ajax side saw out the match with ease and booked a 4-0 win in Óscar García's debut as Ajax manager - the biggest for a debuting Ajax manager since 2001. Ajax won their first match since February 14th and take a big win to next week's Klassieker derby away at Feyenoord.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ajax-8UOvIwnb/sparta-rotterdam-KK4FaFV3/?mid=bB2aEM5F"]Check out the full match statistics on Flashscore[/a][/b][/p][image alt="Key match stats" id="69ac6c81-2247-48b7-a5f3-eed3f20f819a" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="0492223f-796f-4a62-92e5-d2fdca123be8" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /]