Ajax's Oscar Gloukh Scores Hat-Trick After Tactical Halftime Shift

Oscar Gloukh, the Israeli talent at Ajax, scored a hat-trick within 18 minutes during his team's 4-1 victory over Vojvodina on Thursday. This win helped Ajax secure a 8-2 aggregate score and advance to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. The Dutch media focused on the halftime tactical adjustment that led to Gloukh's success. The coach explained that Gloukh performs better when positioned closer to the striker, allowing him to focus less on pressing defenders and more on attacking with confidence. Four of Gloukh's five shots, including all three goals, came in the second half after this change.

Throughout most of the match, Gloukh stayed close to the striker, moving from the right wing inward alongside teammate Mika Chudets. Meanwhile, Steven Berghaus shifted to the opposite flank to draw defenders away, fitting into Ajax's renewed attacking pattern. Coach Mitchell acknowledged that Gloukh's first half was not strong enough, but praised his second-half performance. He emphasized the need for consistent contributions from the entire team, including Gloukh, Chudets, and Jordi Mokiu.