Sparta and Ajax both score late to cancel each other out in an entertaining clash.

Sparta Rotterdam extended their unbeaten run to eight matches after drawing 1-1 with leaders Ajax at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Mohamed Nassoh put the visitors ahead with an incredible curled effort deep into stoppage time, but substitute Youri Regeer immediately equalised to salvage a point for the league leaders.

Ajax are now one step closer to their first Eredivisie league title since 2022, as they are seven points clear of second-placed PSV with three games to go.

It was a slow start to the game, with neither side able to hold onto the ball. After a lacklustre opening 10 minutes, Ajax began carving out well-worked passing moves in order to get a sight of goal.

Davy Klaassen and Steven Berghuis linked up nicely to get in behind the Sparta defence before Nick Olij put an abrupt end to the move. Full-back Jorrel Hato then switched play for Anton Gaaei, whose low-drilled strike was saved.

The hosts continued to place pressure on Sparta's defence, and Gaaei was involved once again to thread Bertrand Traore through on goal, but the forward's resulting shot was blocked.

It took 30 minutes for the visitors to trouble Matheus, with Mitchell Van Bergen's powerful strike at goal saved well by the shot-stopper.

This chance changed the tide of the game, and Sparta began to cause problems for the hosts after a difficult start.

Kristian Hlynsson played a perfect pass in behind the Ajax defence for Shunshuke Mito, who was unable to find the target with a powerful strike. The Japanese winger had two more consecutive one-on-one opportunities on the verge of half-time to beat Matheus, but both times the goalkeeper came out on top.

It had been a fairly uneventful first 55 minutes for the home fans, who had very little to cheer about, but the introduction of Wout Weghorst and Jorthy Mokio raised the noise inside the stadium with just over 30 minutes left to play.

Weghorst was almost immediately involved in the action as he rounded the keeper before putting a low cross into the box that was cleared by Marvin Young.

Davy Klaassen attempted to open the scoring in style with an overhead kick, but his effort was off-target and harmless for Olij.

Weghorst then saw his header smash off the crossbar before Gaaei rattled the post with a low curled strike. It seemed inevitable that Ajax would score eventually, but Sparta were trying to slow the game down at every opportunity to keep hold of a point.

Against the run of play, Sparta took the lead deep into stoppage time through Nassoh, who found the back of the net with a curled finish from the middle of the box.

However, substitute Regeer immediately replied for the hosts at the death of the game, which brought an end to an entertaining half of football.