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Pre-season Friendlies

Jul 19, 2018 at 2pm UK

Wolves Wolverhampton Wanderers
1-1
Ajax

Neves (74' pen.)

FT(HT: 0-1)

van de Beek (45')

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Football

Ruben Neves nets as Wolverhampton Wanderers draw with Ajax

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 19 July 2018

Ruben Neves scores the penalty spot as Wolverhampton Wanderers come from behind to draw 1-1 with Dutch giants Ajax on Thursday afternoon.

Ruben Neves scored from the penalty spot as Wolverhampton Wanderers came from behind to draw 1-1 with Dutch giants Ajax in Thursday afternoon's pre-season friendly at the Banks's Stadium.

Diogo Jota and Frenkie de Jong in action during the pre-season friendly between Ajax and Wolverhampton Wanderers on July 19, 2018 © Reuters

Ajax named a strong team for the pre-season clash, with Frenkie de Jong - strongly linked with a move to Barcelona - operating alongside the much-coveted Matthijs de Ligt at centre-back. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, meanwhile, led the line for the visitors.

Ivan Cavaleiro had the game's first half-chance in the third minute, but the Wolves attacker fired into the arms of Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana following a quick break.

Diogo Jota was next to try his luck with two separate attempts in the 18th minute, but his first from a corner was blocked, before Onana gathered the attacker's second effort.

Daley Blind slides in on Ivan Cavaleiro during the pre-season friendly between Ajax and Wolverhampton Wanderers on July 19, 2018 © Reuters

Wolves continued to create the better openings and came close once again in the 32nd minute when Jota was released by Neves in a dangerous area, but Onana did well to claim.

It was Ajax that took the lead in the closing stages of the first half, however, when Donny van de Beek found space in a dangerous position before picking out the corner with a smart finish.

Helder Costa had the first half-chance of the second period when he collected a short free kick from Cavaleiro before striking towards goal, but Onana collected the deflected effort.

Conor Coady and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in action during the pre-season friendly between Ajax and Wolverhampton Wanderers on July 19, 2018 © Reuters

Daley Blind made his second Ajax debut as a second-half substitute following his move from Manchester United, and the Dutch outfit were using the ball well despite coming under pressure.

Jota headed over the Ajax goal on the hour as Wolves continued to press, before the 21-year-old forced a smart save from Onana 10 minutes later as chances continued to arrive.

The English side were finally level in the 74th minute, however, and it came from a Neves penalty after Costa had been brought to the ground inside the Ajax box.

Wolves, who came close to winning it late on with a Danny Batth header, will continue their pre-season preparations with a clash against Stoke City next Wednesday, while Ajax will face Walsall on the same night.

WOLVES (3-4-3): Norris (Ruddy 46'); Boly (Watt 84'), Coady (Batth 84'), Bennett (Saiss 72'); Giles (John 84'), Gibbs-White (Pereira 71), Neves (Hause 84'), Doherty; Cavaleiro (Ashley-Seal 71'), Jota (Mir 84'), Costa (Enobakhare 87')

AJAX (4-3-3): Onana; Kristensen, De Ligt, De Jong (Blind 46'), Tagliafico; Mazraoui (Jensen 88'), Eiting, Van de Beek (De Wit 79); Lang, Huntelaar (Sierhuis 84'), Neres