Ajax start Europa League campaign with a win against Vojvodina
Ajax won the first match in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League against FK Vojvodina. Francesco Farioli's team beat the Serbians 1-0 in a well-packed Johan Cruijf ArenA due to a goal from Branco van der Boomen in the match's closing stages. The return leg will be played next week in Novi Sad.
If Ajax knock out Vojvodina to reach the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League, they will face Panathinaikos from Greece or Botev Plovdiv from Bulgaria. Playoffs follow that round before they reach the tournament.
Ajax started their first competitive match under Farioli with Remko Pasveer in goal. The goalkeeper became the oldest player for Ajax in a European game at 40 years and 260 days of age. The Italian manager believes the keeper will ensure there is some leadership. Young players Youri Baas, Kian Fitz-Jim, and Christian Rasmussen were given a starting spot.
The Amsterdammers put the fourth-placed Serbian side under pressure from the start. There was a lot of space on the right side with Rasmussen, and the Dane was able to put some good crosses into the box. Ajax appealed for a penalty after a dribble from Kenneth Taylor, and goalkeeper Lazar Carevic saved shots from Carlos Forbs and Rasmussen. Taylor hit the crossbar with a hard shot in the first half, and a cross from Chuba Akpom went past the goal.
Farioli's side struggled more in the second half, and the Serbians gained more grip in the match. The Italian brought on Steven Berghuis and Mika Godts to bring an attacking impulse, but Pasveer was called into action to stop a shot from Mihailo Ivanovic.
A short while later, the Serbian's replacement, Aleksa Vukanovic, was given a massive opportunity with his first touch of the ball, but he hit the post.
Farioli made one more sub. Van den Boomen and Julian Rijkhoff came into the side, and Jaydon Banel followed.
Van den Boomen headed into the far corner from a cross by Godts and gave the manager a winning start in Amsterdam.
Ajax were not the only Dutch side in European competition tonight. Go Ahead Eagles drew 0-0 at home to SK Brann. This was also the competitive debut for a new manager as Paul Simonis took charge of his first competitive match as Go Ahead manager.
The return leg will be played next week in Norway, and Go Ahead will be without midfielder Enric Llansana, who was sent off for a foul when he was the last man.
