Ajax have qualified for the last 16 of the Europa League for the first time since the 2010/11 season after a 3-0 win over Legia Warsaw in Poland. The Amsterdam side qualify 4-0 on aggregate.
- By Michael Bell
- Follow Michael on Twitter
Arkaduisz Milik was the difference last week in Amsterdam, and the Polish striker opened the scoring after only 11 minutes in an empty Polish Army stadium. Milik out-muscled his marker on the halfway line before racing down the pitch and sending an excellent strike into the roof of the net.
Two minutes later Ajax doubled their lead as Nick Viergever converted from close range after a Ricardo Kishna free kick caused mayhem in the Legia box. The home side were then lucky not to be reduced to ten men when Guilherme brutally hacked down Milik, but the referee only showed a yellow card.
Milik then settled the tie two minutes before the break, racing on to Kisha’s through ball before escaping a challenge and slotting his shot underneath the onrushing Legia keeper.
The home side improved after the break but they could find no way past Jasper Cillessen, who was once again in good form, although the goalkeeper was lucky that after a poor clearance Kucharczyk could only blast over the bar with the goal gaping.
After four years in a row of exiting the Europa League in the first knockout round Ajax are in the last 16 of the competition.
Follow
Follow @Footballoranje_ on Twitter
