The Ajax Women failed to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League in Paris tonight. To achieve that, a victory was needed, but Ajax never actually came close to that. Paris Saint-Germain was ultimately too strong with 3-1. However, Ajax still has full control over reaching the quarter-finals. Everything comes down to the last round of play in the group, next Tuesday.
With PSG, Ajax tonight met the team that was the very first opponent ever in the group stage of the Champions League on November 15 in the Johan Cruijff Arena. That match was against all odds won 2-0.
Quick catch up
After a 3-0 defeat in Rome and a point in Munich against Bayern, Ajax won again in the Arena a month ago. Because of that 1-0 win over Bayern A win today would mean a historic quarter-final spot.
But it soon became clear that PSG would not just let that happen. After seven minutes it was already 1-0 for the home team, where Jackie Groenen was in the starting line-up and Lieke Martens was on the bench. Marie-Antoinette Katoto, the striker of the French team, scored with a half bicycle kick. After 25 minutes of play it was scored again, and again Katoto was the scorer.
Second half without big chances
Ajax did not have much to say at that moment, but in the 31st minute they came back into the match. After taking the ball from a PSG defender, Romée Leuchter made it 2-1 after a nice solo and a good shot in the short corner. However, that was not the halftime score, because a few minutes after Leuchter’s goal, Grace Geyoro tapped in to make it 3-1 from close range, after Ajax keeper Regina van Eijk had first made a good save on an attempt by PSG.
After halftime, Leuchter did not return to the field, it was unclear why she remained in the locker room. Leuchter was replaced by Danique Tolhoek. In the second half, both teams ultimately had no more big chances. The most dangerous moment for Ajax came about twenty minutes into the second half, when Tolhoek shot from the edge of the penalty area. PSG keeper Katarzyna Kiedrzynek tapped the ball wide. But not much else happened and so the score remained at 3-1.
Exciting final round of play
Despite the defeat against PSG, no one has gone overboard yet, because Ajax still has everything in its own hands. Due to the draw (2-2) between Roma and Bayern earlier in the evening, Ajax is second in the group. That place is also enough for a place in the quarter-finals.
The last group match for Ajax is scheduled for next Tuesday at 9 p.m. AS Roma then comes to the Johan Cruijff Arena. If Ajax manages to win that match, just like the home games against PSG and Bayern, then the quarter-finals of the Champions League will be a fact. As long as Bayern cannot beat PSG, a draw is enough for Ajax.