The Eredivisie giant was facing the prospect of losing six consecutive games in UEFA's flagship competition for the first time, but came up trumps in the closing stages. 

Oscar Gloukh and Anton Gaaei struck twice in three second-half minutes to complete the turnaround, with the former grabbing his brace in the dying embers. 

Despite a bright start, Ajax went behind in the 10th minute when Elvin Cafarquliyev's long punt forward was not dealt with by Ko Itakura, allowing Camilo Duran to steal in and loft the ball over the on-rushing Vitezslav Jaros. 

Qarabag put its foot to the floor in search of a second, with Abdellah Zoubir blazing a glorious chance over the bar before Duran rippled the side-netting from close range. 

The host's profligacy in front of goal was punished six minutes before the half-time whistle after Kasper Dolberg's fierce drive from distance nestled into the bottom-left corner. 

Two minutes after the restart, Qarabag edged back in front when Cafarquliyev's deflected cross made its way to the edge of the box, allowing Matheus Silva to smash home first time. 

Ajax should have drawn level when Don-Angelo Konadu put Gaaei's teasing cross straight at Mateusz Kochalski, but the visitor hauled itself level soon after. 

After a swift counter-attack, Gloukh cut inside from the left and squeezed his right-footed shot in at the near post, but there was to be more joy for caretaker boss Fred Grim. 

After being played into the box by Konadu, Gaaei sent a stunning shot into the roof of the net before Gloukh grabbed his second of the game with a composed 90th-minute finish.