Ajax has been eliminated from the Europa League. In France it lost 4-3 to Olympique Marseille. The team from Amsterdam came back from behind three times, but in injury time Marseille striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the winning penalty.
Early in the match, Ajax fell behind 1-0 due to a penalty from Aubameyang. Less than two minutes later the team from Amsterdam returned. After a nice combination between Brian Brobbey and Steven Berghuis, Brobbey scored the equalizer.
However, Ajax had to give chase again, as Chancel Mbemba headed in from a corner in the 25th minute. Five minutes later it was Brobbey again who made it 2-2. That was also the halftime score in Marseille.
Text continues under photo.
In the second half Ajax quickly fell behind. Aubameyang gave the home team the lead with a fantastic bicycle kick. After a terribly rash tackle, Steven Berghuis received a direct red card in the 62nd minute. After that Ajax played a difficult match.
Goalgetter Akpom
Out of nowhere, Ajax leveled. On a pass from Kristian Hlynsson, substitute Chuba Akpom headed the 3-3 against the ropes. In the final phase of the match, Brobbey was close to winning, but he fell just short of scoring.
In injury time, Ajax keeper Ramaj caused a penalty. It was Aubameyang who managed to score, making his third of the evening. Ajax lost the match 4-3 and was eliminated from the Europa League.
Ajax now has to beat AEK Athens in two weeks if it wants to play in the Conference League after the winter break.
Ajax line-up: Ramaj; Gaaei, Rensch, Hato, Sosa (Martha/77); Tahirović, Taylor (Akpom/77), Berghuis; Forbs (Hlynsson/46), Brobbey, Bergwijn.