After Tuesday, Ajax will know a little more about the potential opponent in the play-offs of the Europa League. In the third qualifying round, Astana took a home lead against Ludogorets by winning 2-1. In a week’s return in Bulgaria, it will be determined who Ajax’s opponent will be.
At Ludogorets, former FC Groningen goalkeeper Sergio Padt stood under the crossbar, while Norwegian left back Aslak Fonn Witry, who previously played for AZ, was another player with Eredivisie experience with the Bulgarians. Ludogorets started the away game in Kazakhstan as a light favorite with the bookmakers and took the lead after half an hour of play. Noah Sonko Sundberg headed in a free kick taken by Kiril Despodov: 0-1.
Astana equalized again just before half-time, also via a header. The goal was scored by Zarko Tomasevic: 1-1. Shortly after the break, another goal was scored, this time by Astana defender Aleksandr Marochkin: 2-1. Ludogorets insisted in the final phase, but struggled to become dangerous. Padt kept the starting position feasible for the Bulgarians by saving shortly before time on a dangerous bet from close range by Timur Dosmagambetov.
Due to Astana’s 2-1 victory, nothing has been decided yet, but Ajax can already take into account the option of playing against the Kazakh top club in the play-offs. If that is the case, the Amsterdammers will have to make a long flight of 4,500 kilometers to the far east of Europe, where Kazakhstan is located, at the end of August. Should Ajax lose out in the diptych, the team from Amsterdam will flow to the group stage of the Europa League.