Brighton & Hove Albion took control of their UEFA Europa League (UEL) qualification prospects by winning two consecutive matches against Ajax, securing a 2-0 victory in Amsterdam.
The Johan Cruyff Arena was filled with anticipation as Ajax had recently achieved consecutive home wins in 2023. Early opportunities for Steven Berghuis and Kenneth Taylor were thwarted by Bart Verbruggen, offering hope for the home team. However, their inexperienced squad proved costly when 18-year-old Silvano Vos lost possession in his own half, leading to swift punishment. Simon Adingra intercepted the ball and set up Ansu Fati, who calmly finished to give the Seagulls the lead.
Fati, having scored in both head-to-head encounters with Ajax, showcased his prowess, but it was Adingra who posed the greatest threat. Approaching halftime, Adingra nearly doubled the lead, but Ajax goalkeeper Diant Ramaj thwarted his near-post strike. As expected, the Ivorian found the net eight minutes into the second half, with Fati turning provider for Adingra’s exquisite finish into the far corner.
Ajax continued to struggle, conceding possession in their own final third, this time with Ramaj at fault. However, Fati couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity, dragging his shot wide after being set up by Kaoru Mitoma. Mitoma himself came close to scoring but fired over the bar after infiltrating the Ajax backline. Despite Brian Brobbey’s apparent goal being denied by the posts, and Chuba Akpom’s close attempt, Ajax failed to break through. Roberto De Zerbi’s team comfortably secured the win, temporarily claiming the top spot in the group after historic consecutive victories over the four-time Champions of Europe. Ajax now finds themselves at the bottom of the group, facing potential elimination if results elsewhere do not favor them.