Ajax lose to Union Berlin and are eliminated in Europe

Ajax sold eight key players last summer and announced last week that they made no less than 76 million euros in profit in the first half of the footballing year. However, the club’s European season failed. Ajax will continue to participate in the Eredivisie and the KNVB Cup in the coming months.

Ajax started with just three defenders in an atmospheric Stadion An der alten Försterei and hoped to shake Union Berlin’s strong defense more than they did last week in the Johan Cruijff ArenA. The visitors’ style of play seemed to work well. Ajax opened threateningly but didn’t have many chances. Again and again a player from the home team managed to block the ball at the last minute.

Union barely came close to Ajax’s goal but took the lead after 20 minutes. Danilho Doekhi headed the ball from close range into Calvin Bassey’s arm, but referee Ricardo de Burgos didn’t call for a penalty. The Spaniard firmly dismissed any protests from the home players but suddenly changed his mind when the video referee pointed him towards a TV screen. Robin Knoche claimed the penalty and punched goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli (1-0).

Goof

Ajax were not fazed by the unfortunate opening goal and continued to play good football. Mohammed Kudus fired wide from a promising position and was offside when he scored a little later. Ajax seemed on their way to an equaliser, but in the 44th minute Rulli blundered after a Josip Juranovic shot (2-0). Kudus looked to make the game exciting again in the 47th minute (2-1), but three minutes later Doekhi, who was still active for Vitesse last season, proved after a corner kick why he was one of the best Bundesliga headers (3-1).

Kudus failed to bring Ajax back into the game for the second time. The Ghanaian missed for an open goal. Ajax were also unable to embarrass the Germans with substitute forwards Brian Brobbey, Lorenzo Lucca and Francisco Conceição.