Ajax will play Europa League football after a 4-0 win over APOEL at the Amsterdam Arena sealed third place in their Champions League group.

ajaapoThe opening forty minutes of the tie was typical of Ajax’s Champions League campaign so far with Frank de Boer’s side having the majority of possession without actually troubling their opponents goal. Arkadiusz Milik came the closest to opening the scoring but his diving header was saved by the APOEL keeper and Lasse Schone could only scoop the rebound over.

Then on the stroke of half time Milik was brought down in the box, and Schone slotted the penalty into the bottom corner to give Ajax the lead. Five minutes into the second half Milik was once again the architect as he fed the ball to Schone, and the midfielder had a simple finish to net his, and Ajax’s second.

Three minutes later Ricardo Kishna beat three defenders before whipping a cross into the box for Davy Klaassen to head in a third before the midfielder set up Milik to complete the scoring with sixteen minutes to go. Young striker Richairo Zivkovic was handed his Champions League debut late on as Ajax comfortably earned their first Champions League win of the season.

Overall it has been a disappointing campaign for the Amsterdam side, who once again fail to qualify for the knockout stage, but they will at least join PSV and Feyenoord in the Europa League last 32.




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