Welcome to our live blog! On this first day of Pentecost we will keep you informed of the final of the European football play-offs. Ajax receives FC Utrecht in Volendam, as the Johan Cruijff Arena is occupied by Harry Styles. You don’t have to miss any of the developments before, during and after the match. Tips? Email to [email protected].
Past: Ajax – FC Utrecht 1-1 (4-3 after penalties)
Maarten Paes takes Souffian El Karaouni’s penalty and Ajax goes into the Conference League!
The Amsterdam team must survive three preliminary rounds before they can play the group stage of the Conference League.
Anton Gaeei scores from the penalty spot and puts the pressure on FC Utrecht: 4-3.
The American hits the target and the score is equal again: 3-3.
The Belgian shoots the ball painfully slowly into the goal: 3-2.
What a score from Gjivai Zekiel: 2-2.
Wout Weghorst gives Ajax the lead again: 2-1.
Maarten Paes is in the right corner, but cannot turn. Rafik El Arguioi hits the mark: 1-1.
Davy Klaassen shoots the first penalty straight into the intersection: 1-0.
Maarten Paes takes the first penalty from Sébastien Haller: 0-0
Penalties will be the deciding factor in determining who can play in the Conference League next season. Will it be Ajax or FC Utrecht?
Penalties seem to have to decide again. That was also the case yesterday between FC Volendam and Willem II.
Incredible. A cross from Lucas Rosa is extended by Maher Carrizo. However, his header ends up on the post. It is already the third time that Ajax hits the aluminum in this match.
Gjivai Zechiël catches a falling ball and he volleys the ball behind Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Paes. It’s the same again in Volendam.
At least fifteen minutes left before the end of this match. Ajax still leads thanks to that goal by Davy Klaassen.
Mika Godts gets the ball from a cross from Davy Klaassen. The Belgian plays around Niklas Vesterlund and smashes the ball onto the crossbar via the Utrecht goalie.
The first half of extra time is now over.
Ajax takes the lead! Who else than Davy Klaassen is the maker of the 1-0. He shoots a falling ball into the goal with his left hand.
The VAR takes another look at it, but the goal stands.
Mika Godts dribbles into the penalty area and takes a shot. His effort is easily saved by Vasilios Barkas.
Takehiro Tomiyasu then comes on for Youri Baas.
The ball rolls for the first half of extra time in the final of the play-offs for European football.
There will be an extension before it is certain who will be allowed to play in the Conference League. Ajax has the better of the game in the second half, but cannot benefit from the dominance.
Ajax still has six minutes to prevent a possible extension. Injury time has arrived.
Wout Weghorst and Maher Carrizo make their appearance at Ajax. Kasper Dolberg and Steven Berghuis leave.
During a free kick, substitute Sébastien Haller suddenly appears in front of the goal. The striker is not hitting the ball well. Ajax will do well there.
Ajax screams for a penalty. Referee Allard Lindhout does not agree and ‘simply’ gives a corner to the Amsterdam team.
Mokio has just been injured in his attempt. Sean Steur, from Volenda, is his replacement.
Aaron Bouwman is dangerous (not for the first time today). The defender’s header forces Vasilios Barkas to make a save. Maybe it’s a starting signal for more opportunities.
Oh dear! Now Jorthy Mokio aims the ball at the underside of the crossbar.
Will there be a goal in the second half? We are busy again in Volendam.
Lucas Rosa shoots towards the goal with the outside right. The effort was barely missed by Vasilios Barkas. Ajax is getting stronger in this phase.
The storm seems to have subsided after the strong opening phase. Hopefully there will be great opportunities again soon.
Now there is finally a possibility again. Aaron Bouwman tries spectacularly with a bicycle kick. His acrobatic attempt goes wide.
A long shot from Steven Berghuis forces goalkeeper Vasilios Barkas to make a save. The Greek still has quite some difficulty turning the ball.
Aaron Bouwman can also score moments later. The central defender’s goal is simply turned by Barkas.
Steven Berghuis blasts a free kick from a great distance narrowly wide of Utrecht’s goal. The first danger of the Ajax players.
FC Utrecht immediately gets two big chances against Ajax. Initially, Siebe Horemans’ header is cleared off the line by Jorthy Mokio. Moments later, Mike van der Hoorn heads just wide of the goal.
Will Ajax reach the Conference League? We started in Volendam.
Ajax’s season has not been successful, even if it reaches European football. General director Menno Geelen thinks so. “Regardless of the outcome of this match, it’s a shit season, sorry for my language,” he said on ESPN.
“Everyone at Ajax has that feeling, especially the fans. They have supported us tremendously throughout the season, including in Europe and in away games. They were also fantastic on Thursday.”
Welcome to our live blog. On this first day of Pentecost we will keep you informed of the final of the European football play-offs. Ajax receives FC Utrecht in Volendam, as the Johan Cruijff Arena is occupied by Harry Styles. You don’t have to miss any of the developments before, during and after the match.
