22 AUG 2024; Jagiellonia - Ajax; Europa League Playoff

[Orange14]

Ajax move on to the final of the three tasks to get into the group stage of the Europa League. They travel to Poland for the away tie. I also just noticed that we have the first Klassiker right after the return match with the Polish team. How cruel is this??

[Tom_]

This team won the Polish league last season. I don’t think it will be a pushover.

[Jinne]

Looks like no team wanted to be Polish champions last season because they won it with 63 points. For an 18 team league thats not much.

Still no teams are pushovers for us yet. Especially with the attack still not netting the expected goals.

[Orange14]

I agree with Tom and Jinne. Trying to win every match 1-0 is not a recipe for long term success. I think the goals will come and Ajax were a bit unfortunate on Thursday not to have scored in the first half. What is weird is some of the Dutch pundits are criticizing Farioli for rotating players last weekend and potentially tomorrow. Playing two matches a week at the beginning of the season is just awful and at least we don't see any injured players yet.

[SPL]

Agree about rotating players.After 120 mins plus penalties no pundits really believe we should start with the same team tomorrow.Luckily next weekend our game is postponed.2nd leg on 29th with Feyenoord on the 1st will be tough.

[Orange14]

Fitz-Jim and Kaplan are not fit and did not travel to Poland. Ajax registered Rugani (unlike the epic failure to get Haller registered when he came in) who is expected to play. Mokio and Verschuren from Jong Ajax are also on the traveling team.

[SPL]

Hlynsson dropped as he does not appear injured.

[Tom_]

It might not matter too much if we win this tie or not. Obviously I would rather be in the Europa League, but the team is probably not good enough to finish first or second in n EL group so they could end up playing Conference League after the winter break anyway.

[SPL]

Fair point Tom but I believe getting to the Europa group stages means we stand to make 10m more than in the Conference.

[souras84]

And there isn't the old Europa League format this year. It's the same as the new CL. All teams in the same group, you play with 8 different teams and there is no continuing in the Conference League if you don't proceed.

[Orange14]

Line up for today: Pasveer; Rensch, Sutalo, Baas, Hato; Berghuis, Henderson, Taylor; Forbs, Akpom, Godts

[GangstaRiB]

1-1 after 25 mins. Ajax got 1-0 down after only 4 minutes. It’s good that they show resilience, but against opponents like this we shouldn’t even get into trouble in the first place.

[Amol]

None of my streaming platforms are showing the game. Aaarggh.

But we're up 1-2 now. Godts' header off a Rensch cross.

[Orange14]

The Polish team is really poor, they cannot beat Ajas. Ajax can beat itself. It looked to me that Forbs was at fault on the goal leaving just lots of space on a short corner that the Polish player could run into. Pasveer made the first save but it was right at a Polish attacker. Ajax are rotating the ball quicker and there are acres of space. Ajax should have had at least one more goal.

[Tom_]

And there isn't the old Europa League format this year. It's the same as the new CL. All teams in the same group, you play with 8 different teams and there is no continuing in the Conference League if you don't proceed.

Thanks, I didn’t know they had changed the format again. 8 teams in the group???

[SPL]

So far so good , plenty of chances but need to get that 3rd quickly to settle it. I couldn't get a stream but if we get to the group stages our games will be on TNT which I get on my Tv

[GangstaRiB]

1-3 Akpom.

Ajax having a field day. Should score a couple more.

[Amol]

1-4 now. Chuba scores the penalty and completes his hat trick.

[GangstaRiB]

1-4 final score. Godts missed a penalty.

Although Akpom is not the personification of a typical Ajax striker, his attitude and sharpness is (at this moment) better than Brobbey or Bergwijn.

Those two really have to step up their game.

[SPL]

A comfortable win and a good night for Akpom. We can now relax a bit next Thursday.

[Orange14]

It really should have been about 1-6 as the Polish team is really poor. They didn't press well and left acres of space for Ajax to pass into. NAC was far better. Hard to believe they won the championship last season. I thought the match official was not good either. Taylor did not foul on the play where he received a YC and Hato's tackle was fair all day long. The PK call could have easily been called a dive on Gaaei, rather cheap penalty IMO. Nevertheless, Ajax did score goals with three from Akpom and one from Godts which was refreshing to see. They didn't have much defending to do except on corners and free kicks. It was disappointing to see the early goal conceded and I think it was Forbs who was at fault for not moving into the space to prevent the attack. Pasveer did make a save but it was futile, going right to a Polish attacker for an easy header. This is a comfortable lead going into the return leg in Amsterdam.

I really do not understand all the short corners by Ajax. they created zero danger.

Player Ratings:

Pasveer (6) - had little to do other than the one save he made that came right back at him
Rensch (6.5) - absolutely great cross to Godts for the match winner and had some other good overlap runs, had no defending to do
Sutalo (7) - when pressed to defend he was up to the task otherwise it was just passing to Baas and getting the return until an opening came up
Baas (7) - same as Sutalo
Hato (6.5) - victim of a wrong decision on the YC and was generally good though he seems reluctant to make good runs into space
Henderson (7) - rock solid as the controlling MF
Taylor (6.5) - OK match and had a hard shot that rebounded to Akpom for a put away
Berghuis (7) - busy all day long as the most forward MF good passing and pressing
Forbs (5) - really needs to move on but I'm sure there are no takers if they watch Ajax game film
Akpom (7.5) - took his chances and put them away
Godts (7) - horribly weak penalty but otherwise played smart, not attacking potential double teams and creating lots of danger; had some wicked low crosses that almost were converted
van den Boomen (5) - ordinary
Traore (5) - looked quicker today or maybe it was just an illusion
Gaaei (NR) - drew a dodgy penalty and had a nice cross in a short stint
Brobbey (NR) - didn't have much of a chance to do anything
Bergwijn (NR) - on very late

No match on the weekend as the Dutch FA has rescheduled the Fortuna Sittard match to give Ajax rest time

[Tom_]

Well, it *was* a pushover and we *did* need to win so everything I posted in this thread was wrong :)

I’m glad it will a stress free home leg next week. Hopefully this is not also wrong!

[SPL]

Akpom's finishing was very good ,would not be bad if he stayed as Weghorst is not going to do any better. Seems to be no interest in Akpom.

Main thing we will be in the Europa League, I will read the new rules when we get through next week.