Ajax Earn First Conference League Win as Substitutes Secure 2-0 Victory Over Atalanta
Ajax opened their Conference League points account with a deserved 2-0 victory over Atalanta at the Johan Cruyff ArenA. After dominating long stretches of an entertaining football match but struggling to convert their chances, the Amsterdam club finally broke through late in the second half. Substitute Tolu Arokodare struck first, before Abdellah Ouazane added a superb second to seal the result.
The win offered an important response to Ajax’s disappointing European opener, a 2-1 defeat away to Hajduk Split. It also built on the team’s confidence after their 5-2 Eredivisie victory over FC Groningen the previous Sunday. For Atalanta, the defeat came after a difficult evening spent defending against Ajax’s movement and quick combinations.
Ajax make few changes after domestic win
Ajax coach Francesco Farioli retained ten players from the side that beat Groningen. Youri Baas came into central defence in place of Dies Janse, while Davy Klaassen again started on the right flank. Marcos Leonardo was selected as the central forward ahead of Arokodare, who began the match among the substitutes.
Atalanta manager Maurizio Sarri set his team up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Charles De Ketelaere operating behind striker Gianluca Scamacca. The visitors looked to stay organised and use their attacking players to threaten on the counter, but Ajax quickly took control of possession and pushed their opponents back.
Ajax create chances but cannot find an early breakthrough
The hosts nearly opened the scoring after just six minutes. Lucas Rosa’s shot took a deflection and struck the post, giving Atalanta an early warning of the pressure to come. Klaassen then headed wide, and Ajax appeared to have scored when Jorthy Mokio found the net. The goal was ruled out, however, because Klaassen had been offside during the build-up.
Ajax continued to move the ball neatly through midfield, repeatedly finding space around the edges of Atalanta’s defence. Mokio tested goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi with a powerful effort, while Marcos Leonardo missed a promising opportunity after a swift counter-attack. Oscar Gloukh also had chances to put Ajax ahead, but his attempts either missed the target or were stopped by Carnesecchi.
Atalanta were not entirely without threat. Scamacca fired wide after a corner, but the visitors struggled to sustain pressure for long periods. Ajax went into half-time with 11 attempts on goal to Atalanta’s seven. Carnesecchi had already made four saves, including an important stop to deny Gloukh shortly before the interval.
Carnesecchi keeps Atalanta in the contest
Ajax resumed with the same urgency, and Carnesecchi was soon called into action again. Julian Brandt tested him from a difficult angle shortly after the restart. A few minutes later, Brandt met a cross from Rosa but headed wide. Rosa then had a clear opportunity of his own, only for the Atalanta goalkeeper to produce another timely save.
The match briefly turned tense when Klaassen challenged Nicola Zalewski inside Ajax’s penalty area. Zalewski went down and appealed for a spot-kick, but the referee judged that Klaassen had got a touch on the ball. A VAR review supported the on-field decision, allowing Ajax to continue their search for a breakthrough without conceding a penalty.
With the score still level after an hour, Ajax turned to their bench. Klaassen and Gloukh made way for Viktor Tsygankov and Ouazane, while Arokodare replaced Marcos Leonardo in the 66th minute. The changes brought fresh energy to the attack, although the Nigerian striker initially missed a chance to make an immediate impact.
Arokodare and Ouazane decide the match
Eleven minutes after coming on, Arokodare was presented with a promising opening after Brandt created space for him. The striker’s effort went over the crossbar after he struck his own standing leg, a frustrating moment that could have unsettled Ajax. Instead, he remained involved and made the most of his next opportunity.
In the 87th minute, Baas sent a long ball forward. Arokodare controlled it neatly with his chest, moved into the space behind the defence and raced towards goal. With Carnesecchi advancing, he stayed composed and finished one-on-one to give Ajax the lead. It was a confident finish that rewarded the hosts for their sustained pressure.
Ajax added a second soon afterwards. Ouazane collected the ball on the left and showed impressive close control to dribble past his marker. He drove towards the byline before striking the ball powerfully into the net off the underside of the crossbar. The finish gave Carnesecchi no realistic chance and confirmed a 2-0 victory.
What the result means for Ajax
The scoreline reflected Ajax’s greater attacking initiative, although the hosts had to be patient and rely on their substitutes to turn territorial control into goals. Carnesecchi’s saves kept Atalanta level for much of the night, while Ajax’s persistence eventually created the decisive openings.
For supporters considering a football prediction for Ajax’s next European fixture, the performance offers both encouragement and a reminder of the team’s areas for improvement. Ajax created plenty of chances and showed depth from the bench, but their finishing was inconsistent until the closing stages. Arokodare’s goal and Ouazane’s confident contribution could strengthen their claims for more playing time.
The three points give Ajax a valuable lift after their loss to Hajduk Split and put their Conference League campaign back on track. Their ability to maintain pressure, introduce effective substitutes and finish strongly will be important as the competition continues. Atalanta, meanwhile, will need to be more assertive in possession and sharper in transition after spending much of the match defending.
