No new Champions League stunt for Ajax Women at AS Roma

Within fifteen minutes, coach Suzanne Bakker’s team faced a 2-0 deficit. Valentina Giacinti opened the score when Ajax goalkeeper Regina van Eijk failed to process a corner from the home team.

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With the second Roman goal, Giacinti took advantage of a risky back pass from Isa Kardinaal to Van Eijk, who missed the ball. “You slip, shit happens. I see it as a failure on my part. One week you are the hero, the next week you are the loser,” the goalkeeper said to the NOS immediately afterwards about the 2-0.

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Shortly before half time, Ajax lost the injured Tiny Hoekstra. Her replacement in the 39th minute was Lotte Keukelaar. Immediately after the break, the leader in Italy struck for the third time. This time Manuela Giugliano hit from close range.

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Ajax, that surprisingly beat Paris SG 2-0 in the Johan Cruijff Arena last week, had little or nothing to say. It was only in the 68th minute that the very young Amsterdam team had a chance. Substitute Keukelaar appeared one-on-one for the AS Roma goalkeeper, but knocked the ball onto the crossbar. AS Roma played the match in a controlled manner.

“We have quite a young group, although that should not be an excuse. Many girls have never experienced this, playing so many matches in a short time,” captain Sherida Spitse analyzed the defeat at NOS. “Maybe there was fatigue. Then you start making mistakes. The more matches you play, the more you get used to that.”

In the other match in Group C, PSG lost again. Bayern Munich turned out too strong with 1-0. The German formation shares the top position in the group with AS Roma with four points. Ajax has three points and PSG of Jackie Groenen and Lieke Martens is on zero. Ajax will visit Bayern on Thursday, December 14. The first two teams in the group advance to the next round.