Ajax’s woes continued unabated on Thursday evening when the Amsterdam club was eliminated from the KNVB Cup by third division amateur side Hercules.

Heracles had built up a 2-0 lead over the Eredivisie team which a “shockingly weak” Ajax managed to claw back, only to lose 3-2 in extra time.

Coach John van ‘t Schip was in Australia for his son’s wedding and assistant Michael Valkanis made no fewer than six changes to the side which had only managed to draw 2-2 against PEC Zwolle at the weekend.

It is the first time Ajax, who were bottom of the Eredivisie earlier this season, have been eliminated from the cup by an amateur side.

Ajax’ 17-year-old captain Jorrel Hato told ESPN after the game that he did not understand what had happened. “We, the professional players, failed to show how good we are,” he said. “We lost, and rightly so. Congratulations to Hercules.”

The Utrecht side will meet first division side Cambuur, from Leeuwarden, in the next round.

Elsewhere in the cup competition, the match between PSV and FC Twente was abandoned because of the weather. The winner of that match will meet Feyenoord in the round of 16.

Quick Boys, the other amateur side remaining in the competition, will take on AZ of Alkmaar.