24 OCT 2024; Qarabag - Ajax; Europa League Pool 3

[Orange14]

Long trip to Azerbaijan to take on their league champion in the Europa League. Don't know much about this team at all.

[SPL]

A nice video from Ajaxtv of the flight and their training today .

[Tom_]

Don’t know them either but I’m sticking to my “away draws are good” mantra. Will watch on delay tomorrow sometime.

[saddlerian]

Luckily the Assistant was on the ball... especially as Weghorst lost a simple pass as Ajax were passing well!!

Qarabag pressing very well..must get out!!!

[saddlerian]

Wow!! Qarabag down to 10 on 15 minutes...

[saddlerian]

Blimey!!!! Ref's having a good time...card crazy!!!

[saddlerian]

Ajax 1-0 up..35 minutes..Taylor...

[GangstaRiB]

Blimey!!!! Ref's having a good time...card crazy!!!

Don’t underestimate the influence of Henderson with this Scottish ref.

[SPL]

A well taken goal but not sure I would have been happy with that red card had it been against an Ajax player.
With the goal up and a man up we should win.

[saddlerian]

HT Qarabag 0-1 Ajax

It'd be nice to see Brobbey on...

[saddlerian]

Obviously Henderson has promised a few bottles of Scotch!!!
VERY dubious penalty..but..0-2

It'd be nice to see this ref for the Glasgow derby...and survive!!!

0-3..Agpm..game over!!

[SPL]

Had to work hard until the penalty, maybe I need to look at the rules more thought it was blatant pen , barging someone over.Ref and VAR thought the same.
Rugani looked decent in his first start and with some tough games coming up I would start with him over Baas.Berghuis is reported to be ready for some mins on Sunday which will be good.Dont rate Rasmussen.

3 points from our trip to the depths of Asia.No idea why this country plays in Europe .

[Orange14]

Ajax can look to the long trip home from Baku with a 0-3 win in their pocket. The match was decided early when Godts was pulled down and a DOGSO Red Card was shown quickly by the Scottish referee. Ajax scored in the first half with a put back by Taylor and then got two in the 2nd half, Weghorst from the spot and Akpom late. Ajax were lethargic in the MF not moving the ball quickly enough to create much in the way of shot opportunities but at this point any victory will be celebrated. With the early games complete, Ajax top the table with 7 points and a superior goal differential. That lead should be short lived as there are a number of teams that can ease ahead of them depending on results.

Player Ratings:

Pasveer (6) - had very little to do
Rensch (6) - had one disastrous pass that created a Qarabag scoring opportunity but was otherwise sold
Rugani (7) - played about 2/3 of the match and was solid
Sutalo (6.5) - had a decent match
Hato (6.5) - did well enough
Henderson (7) - did a decent job keeping the defensive shape
Taylor (6.5) - got the match winner in the first half
Fitz-Jim (6) - OK match before coming off at the 60th minute
Rasmussen (6) - drew a penalty when he was shouldered into the ground but did little else
Weghorst (6) - solid penalty taken but did not have any other opportunities
Godts (6.5) - was dangerous at times, forcing his opponent to foul
Kaplan (6) - had a couple of touches coming in for Rugani
Akpom (6) - scored a nice goal in relief
van den Boomen (5) - had little impact
Gaaei (NR) - on late
Mokio (NR) - on late

Willem II up on Sunday then Feynoord in mid-week followed by PSV. Matches coming one on top of another now.

[Orange14]

3 points from our trip to the depths of Asia.No idea why this country plays in Europe .

It could be worse as Kazakhstan also is in UEFA and would be a much further trip to Almaty.

[Tom_]

A drab game but another great result.

The obligatory dicey UEFA reffing was probably the most entertaining part of the game. I think all the weird calls went our way this time.

[SPL]

Overall we were poor and I do worry with Feyenoord PSV and even Twente coming up. Defence is ok but MF is poor and too slow. V d Boomen slows the game down even more.For all his faults Klaassen still puts the ball in the net. Berghuis will return soon and he can play no 10 and cover for Traore. We need to get 2 wingers in the winter.Godts is doing well but we have no other LW as cover.Traore is not a real winger. Rasmussen is woeful and is NAC or RKC level at best.Gaeei is a moderate fullback although he has a decent cross.

At least we won but had they played with 11 men the result may have been different.