Last years finalists Ajax are on the brink of exiting the Europa League after a hapless performance against Rosenborg in Amsterdam. The Norwegians came away with a 1-0 win.
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After the two draws against Nice in the Champions League and the shock defeat to Heracles Amelo in the Eredivisie, Ajax went into Thursday’s game looking to finally earn their first win of the season.
However, it was Rosenborg who had the better of the opening stages in Amsterdam with Niklas Bendtner going close, before Birger Meling fired over under pressure from Andre Onana. Ajax eventually came into the game as the half progressed but were restricted to long shots by Hakim Ziyech and Lasse Schone. Rosenborg goalkeeper André Hansen only had to make one good save to deny Amin Younes, while David Neres fired a great chance wide just before the break.
In the second half, Matthijs de Ligt got Ajax’s best chance but the defender could only head wide. After that chance, Marcel Keizer rang the changes with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Justin Kluivert replacing the disappointing Kasper Dolberg and Neres.
The changes didn’t have their desired effect and in the 77th minute, a Joel Veltman error resulted in Samuel Adeniyi Adegbenro slotting past Onana to give Rosenborg the lead.
Ajax couldn’t find an equaliser with Huntelaar heading wide in added time, and Keizer’s side now face an uphill battle to stay in the competition next week in Norway.
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