Ajax 2-0 Atalanta: substitutes Arokodare and Ouazane score late for first Conference League win
Tolu Arokodare scored in the 87th minute and Abdellah Ouazane added a second in stoppage time. Maurizio Sarri called the defeat unexpected.
Ajax beat Atalanta 2-0 at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam on Thursday with two late goals from substitutes, after losing 2-1 at Hajduk Split on matchday 1, Dutch news agency ANP reported.
Goals
- 87’ Tolu Arokodare won a duel with Relja Obrić and finished calmly, according to ANP.
- Stoppage time: Abdellah Ouazane scored with a shot that went in off the underside of the crossbar from a tight angle, Football Italia reported. UEFA said Arokodare knocked the ball down for him.
Lucas Rosa hit the post for Ajax with an early deflected shot, UEFA said. Football Italia reported that Atalanta had several counter-attacks but did not seriously test Ajax goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen.
Going into the last five minutes, the last thing I was thinking about was a defeat, because the situation seemed to be favourable for us. Atalanta coach Maurizio Sarri to Sky Sport Italia, quoted by Football Italia
Sarri said Atalanta were without four central defenders. Obrić, a youth academy player, was making his second senior appearance, Football Italia said. Ajax play Midtjylland in Denmark on 5 November, ANP said.
See also: Conference League matchday 2 round-up and Milan 3-2 Atalanta.
Watch highlights: Ajax vs. Atalanta: Extended Highlights | UECL League Phase MD 2 | CBS Sports Golazo (CBS Sports Golazo - Europe on YouTube)
Sources
- UEFA Conference League Matchday 2 round-up: Trabzonspor, Monaco win again, Brighton held · UEFA
- Invallers Arokodare en Ouazane helpen Ajax aan zege op Atalanta · RTL Nieuws / ANP
- Sarri: 'Atalanta more positive than negative, unexpected defeat to Ajax' · Football Italia via Yahoo Sports
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