“Youri Baas scores from a corner inside the opening minute to give Ajax a dream start at home.”
Pivotal“Winsley Boteli completes a stunning turnaround with his second goal of the match, putting Sion 2-1 up on the night and threatening to shift the tie's momentum entirely.”
Pivotal“Tolu Arokodare, assisted by Abdellah Ouazane, converts from a corner in first-half stoppage time to put Ajax back in front at 3-2, swinging momentum decisively back to the hosts right on the stroke of the break.”
Pivotal“Tolu Arokodare grabs his second of the night to make it 4-2, capping a relentless spell of pressure that had already seen him hit the post and have a header saved within minutes of the restart.”
Pivotal“Oliver Edvardsen, introduced at half-time, adds a fifth with Caio Henrique providing the assist, completing a devastating eight-minute blitz that ended any remaining hope Sion had of an unlikely comeback.”
Pivotal
Ajax
Sion
Outstanding performance
Ajax•AttackerAjax controlled this second leg from start to finish in terms of territory and intent, but Sion made them work hard in the first half. After Youri Baas gave the hosts a flying start from a corner inside the opening minute, Winsley Boteli twice hit back to put Sion in front, threatening to turn the tie on its head. Ajax's response was decisive — Davy Klaassen levelled before Tolu Arokodare's header on the stroke of half-time restored the lead, and the match was effectively settled in a brutal eight-minute spell early in the second half when Arokodare added his second and Oliver Edvardsen made it 5-2. The statistics underline Ajax's authority: 55% possession, 26 shots to Sion's 11, eight big chances created, and a dominance index of 69 to 47. Sion's goalkeeper was kept busy with nine saves, but the Swiss side's cause was not helped by two yellow cards for cynical fouls. Boteli's late consolation put a more flattering gloss on the scoreline for Sion, but Ajax advance on aggregate comfortably, the result a fair reflection of the gulf between the two sides over the course of the tie.
How entertaining was this match?
Winsley BoteliWinsley Boteli scores with a left-footed shot.
assist: Fodé Sylla
Goal! Winsley Boteli scores, making it 5-3.
Offside.
Fode Sylla takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Corner awarded.
Marcos Leonardo takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Theo Berdayes takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Jorthy Mokio takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Marcos Leonardo takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Jorthy Mokio takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Oliver Edvardsen takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Offside.
Substitution: Theo Berdayes is replaced by Ylyas Chouaref.
Fode Sylla replaces Ali Kabacalman.
Offside.
Oliver EdvardsenVAR decision: Goal disallowed for offside against Oliver Edvardsen.
Oliver EdvardsenShot by Oliver Edvardsen with his right foot results in a goal.
Goal! Oliver Edvardsen scores with an assist from Abdellah Ouazane. The score is now 6-2.
Oscar Gloukh takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
On comes Oscar Gloukh, off goes Julian Brandt.
On comes Dies Janse, off goes Davy Klaassen.
Marcos Leonardo is on, and Tolu Arokodare is off.
Yellow card issued to Numa Lavanchy.
Julian Brandt takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Marquinhos Cipriano is substituted off for Nias Hefti.
Josias Lukembila comes on for Franck Surdez.
On Donat Rrudhani, Off Rilind Nivokazi.
Oliver EdvardsenShot by Oliver Edvardsen with his right foot results in a goal.
assist: Caio Henrique
Goal! Oliver Edvardsen scores, making it 5-2, assisted by Caio Henrique Oliveira Silva.
Tolu ArokodareTolu Arokodare scores with a right-footed shot.
assist: Abdellah Ouazane
Goal! Tolu Arokodare scores with an assist from Abdellah Ouazane. The score is now 4-2.
Noé SowYellow CardYellow card issued to Noe Sow.
Tolu Arokodare takes a shot with his head, but it's saved.
Tolu Arokodare takes a right-footed shot that hits the post.
Franck Surdez takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Oliver Edvardsen replaces Steven Berghuis.
Tolu ArokodareTolu Arokodare scores with a right-footed shot.
First half ends with a score of 3-2.
Tolu Arokodare takes a right-footed shot but misses.
assist: Abdellah Ouazane
Goal! Tolu Arokodare scores to make it 3-2, assisted by Abdellah Ouazane.
Corner awarded.
Offside.
Davy Klaassen scores with a right-footed shot.
assist: Lucas Rosa
Goal! Davy Klaassen scores to make it 2-2, assisted by Lucas Oliveira Rosa.
Davy Klaassen scores with a right-footed shot.
Winsley BoteliWinsley Boteli scores with a right-footed shot.
Goal! Winsley Boteli scores, making it 1-2.
Corner awarded.
Offside.
Goal! The score is now 2-1.
Tolu Arokodare attempts a header but misses the shot.
Corner awarded.
Steven Berghuis takes a header, but it's saved.
On Jorthy Mokio, off Youri Regeer.
Ali Kabacalman takes a left-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Corner awarded.
Winsley BoteliWinsley Boteli scores with a right-footed shot.
Nias Hefti takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Goal! Winsley Boteli scores, making it 1-1.
Ali Kabacalman takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Franck Surdez takes a shot with his head, but it's saved.
Abdellah Ouazane takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Ali Kabacalman attempts a left-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Abdellah Ouazane takes a right-footed shot, but it misses the target.
Steven Berghuis takes a left-footed shot, but it is saved.
Tolu Arokodare takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Youri BaasYouri Baas scores with a left-footed shot.
Youri Baas takes a shot with his head, but it's saved.
Julian Brandt takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Goal! Youri Baas scores to make it 1-0.
Corner awarded.
Kick-off! The referee is Julian Weinberger.
Ajax return to the Johan Cruijff Arena holding a commanding 4-2 first-leg advantage after a stunning comeback in Switzerland, making them heavy favourites to reach the Europa Conference League group stage. Sion need to score at least three goals without reply to advance, a tall order against a Dutch side playing at home in front of their own fans.
