“Franck Surdez broke the deadlock for Sion, converting an assist from Ali Kabacalman to give the hosts a shock lead against the run of play, after Ajax had wasted several headers and left-footed efforts in the preceding minutes.”
Pivotal“Ilyas Chouaref stepped up and converted a penalty to pull Sion level at 2-2, briefly threatening to blow the tie wide open after Ajax had established what looked like a comfortable lead.”
Pivotal“Tolu Arokodare, introduced just one minute earlier as a substitute, instantly broke the deadlock again by scoring to make it 2-3, a devastating piece of impact substitution that immediately deflated Sion after their equaliser.”
Pivotal“Davy Klaassen put the gloss on a superb Ajax away display with a late fourth goal, putting the Dutch side firmly in control of this two-legged tie with a 2-4 scoreline to take back to Amsterdam.”
Pivotal
Sion
Ajax
Outstanding performance
Ajax•MidfielderAjax arrived in Sion as clear favourites and ultimately proved their class, but they had to work hard for it after Franck Surdez gave the Swiss side a surprise lead just before the half-hour mark. The statistics told the full story of Ajax's dominance — 60% possession, 22 shots to Sion's 12, and three big chances created — yet the Dutch side found themselves level only at half-time following Julian Brandt's 53rd-minute equaliser, then ahead through Marcos Leonardo's composed finish just after the hour. When Ilyas Chouaref converted a penalty to level things at 2-2 in the 71st minute, Sion briefly threatened to make this a genuinely open tie, but Ajax's bench proved decisive. Tolu Arokodare, on for just one minute, restored the lead at 74', and veteran Davy Klaassen wrapped up a 4-2 away win in the 87th minute to give Ajax a commanding advantage heading into the second leg. Sion will need to overturn a two-goal deficit in Amsterdam, a task that looks formidable given Ajax's control throughout this encounter.
How entertaining was this match?
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Shot by Marc-Andre ter Stegen is blocked.
Davy Klaassen scores with a right-footed shot.
Josias Lukembila takes a left-footed shot, but it's blocked.
assist: Tolu Arokodare
Goal! Davy Klaassen scores, making it 2-4.
Substitution: Benjamin Kololli is replaced by Ylyas Chouaref.
Tolu Arokodare takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Theo Berdayes is substituted for Winsley Boteli.
Josias Lukembila comes on for Baltazar.
On Lucas Oliveira Rosa, off Anton Gaaei.
Anton GaaeiYellow CardYellow card issued to Anton Gaaei.
On Donat Rrudhani, Off Rilind Nivokazi.
Substitution: Fode Sylla comes on for Franck Surdez.
Tolu ArokodareShot! Tolu Arokodare scores with a header.
Goal! Tolu Arokodare scores, bringing the score to 2-3.
On Tolu Arokodare, off Marcos Leonardo.
Owen Wijndal comes on for Caio Henrique Oliveira Silva.
Abdellah Ouazane is on, and Oscar Gloukh is off.
Ilyas ChouarefYlyas Chouaref takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
Goal in the penalty shootout! Ylyas Chouaref scores, making it 2-2.
Goal! The score is now 2-2.
Jorthy MokioYellow CardYellow card issued to Jorthy Mokio.
Winsley Boteli takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Marcos LeonardoShot - Marcos Leonardo Head Shot Goal
assist: Anton Gaaei
Goal! Marcos Leonardo scores to make it 1-2, assisted by Anton Gaaei.
Marcos Leonardo takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Winsley Boteli takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Anton Gaaei takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Julian BrandtJulian Brandt scores with a right-footed shot.
Goal! The score is now 1-1.
Oscar Gloukh takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Jorthy Mokio takes a left-footed shot but misses.
On Jorthy Mokio, Off Youri Regeer.
The first half ends with a score of 1-0.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Ylyas Chouaref takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Corner awarded.
Youri RegeerYellow CardYellow card shown to Youri Regeer.
Franck SurdezFranck Surdez takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
assist: Ali Kabacalman
Goal! Franck Surdez scores to make it 1-0, assisted by Ali Kabacalman.
BaltazarYellow CardYellow card issued to Baltazar.
Steven Berghuis takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Steven Berghuis attempts a header but misses the shot.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Julian Brandt takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Steven Berghuis attempts a left-footed shot but misses.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Franck Surdez takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Steven Berghuis takes a left-footed shot, but it is saved.
Baltazar takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Davy Klaassen takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Ylyas Chouaref takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Winsley Boteli takes a right-footed shot, but it hits the post.
Marcos Leonardo takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Steven Berghuis takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Davy Klaassen's left-footed shot is blocked.
Marcos Leonardo takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Nias Hefti takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Corner awarded.
Steven Berghuis takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Kick-off! The referee is Mohammed Al-Hakim.
Swiss underdogs Sion host the storied Ajax at Stade de Tourbillon in a Europa Conference League play-off first leg, with a place in the group stage on the line. Ajax arrive as clear favourites but face a buoyant Sion side riding the confidence of a dramatic qualification run — making this a classic David vs Goliath European showdown.
