Last years beaten finalist’s, Ajax are out of the Europa League in the play-off round after a 3-2 defeat at Rosenborg saw them lose 4-2 on aggregate.
- Follow Football-Oranje on Twitter
The hapless 1-0 defeat in Amsterdam last week left Ajax with it all to do in Norway and Marcel Keizer decided to drop Frenkie de Jong and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar for Lasse Schone and Kasper Dolberg, while Amin Younes returned to the starting eleven.
The first half performance was lifeless from Ajax and they went into the break deservedly 1-0 down after Niklas Bendtner was left unmarked to send a diving header past Andre Onana. Ajax also lost Justin Kluivert to a hamstring injury with Vaclav Cerny brought on in his place.
At the start of the second half, Huntelaar entered the field and Ajax finally woke up. Huntelaar couldn’t control the ball when one-on-one with the Norwegian keeper before Nick Viergever shot wide. On the hour mark, Viergever’s cross found Amin Younes all alone in the box and the winger netted to pull one back. A minute later the German went on a mazy run before pulling back for Lasse Schone to fire Ajax ahead on the night.
Ajax were heading through and looking for a third goal but Kasper Dolberg saw a shot deflected wide before Ziyech saw a fine effort tipped over. However, ten minutes before the end, Rosenborg won a corner and after Onana failed to claim the cross, Samuel Adegbenro headed in to make it 2-2.
Minutes before the end, Adegbenro bulldozed his way through the Ajax defence before firing Rosenborg to victory on the night and in the tie.
Ajax’s European adventure is now over for the season, which is not only a disaster for the club but also Dutch football.
This is an awful start for Ajax. Out of everything. 1 win in 6 games. Not acceptable. Can it get any worse?
I am ajax fan for many years but that ajax play so bad i can t remember no european fudball is a dizaster now will more players to leave ajax…kaizer most go..last night broke my hart but ajax is now 3 class european club far avay from real barca bayern…