The first match in the quarter finals of the Europa League against AS Roma turned out to be a major disappointment for Ajax. The team from Amsterdam took the lead in the first half by a goal from Davy Klaassen, but after the break it went completely wrong. Dusan Tadic missed a penalty early in the second company, after which a mistake by goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen gave the Italians the equalizer from a free kick by Lorenzo Pellegrini. Ultimately, Roger Ibañez shot the winning goal against the ropes in the 87th minute, sending the Romans home with a 1-2 victory. The return awaits in the Stadio Olimpico in a week and Devyne Rensch will not be present, because he got a yellow card and is therefore suspended.
Erik ten Hag changed his starting team in one place compared to the 1-2 won away game with sc Heerenveen. Antony replaced Sébastien Haller, who was not eligible to play, so that Tadic played in the point of the attack as expected. Maarten Stekelenburg was still absent due to a knee injury and saw his place taken over by Scherpen, who had to make the first serious save after sixteen minutes. After pinpricks back and forth from Ryan Gravenberch and Edin Dzeko, the Ajax goalkeeper stylishly tapped a good shot from Bryan Cristante.
YES! Davy Klaassen is doing it again for Ajax! The Dutchman gets the ball back from Dusan Tadic and shoots the ball against the ropes. #UEL #ajarom pic.twitter.com/KJakITNNjD
– VTBL? (@vtbl) April 8, 2021
Scherpen was able to get the ball considerably easier when Dzeko fired on his goal five minutes later. With less than half an hour on the clock, Roma had to deal with a major setback, when Leonardo Spinazzola had to be replaced by Riccardo Calafiori with a muscle injury. Shortly afterwards Ajax showed itself for the first time in the penalty area of the opponent, but a shot from Tadic missed direction. Six minutes before half-time Ajax took the lead somewhat out of nowhere.
Amadou Diawara seemed to play the ball back carefree after a failed heel by Antony, but Gianluca Mancini hesitated and offered Klaassen the chance to pick up the ball. The midfielder launched Tadic and got the leather back from the Serb, after which he shot controlled. Klaassen opened the score for the third time this Europa League season: no player has done this before. Shortly after the opening goal, Roma goalkeeper Pau López prevented Antony from doubling the margin quickly.
Oops … Dusan Tadic misses the penalty kick and does not put Ajax at 2-0. #UEL #romaya pic.twitter.com/KmomEBYQkv
– VTBL? (@vtbl) April 8, 2021
Ajax started strongly in the second half and soon got a great opportunity to expand the score. Ibañez brought down Tadic in the penalty area, prompting referee Sergey Karasev from Russia to put the ball on the ball. Normally infallible from eleven meters, Tadic failed, however, after placing the ball through the center, López stopped and the goal could be turned around by the goalkeeper. After an hour of play, the dream start of the second half changed into a horror start, when Roma came to the same level.
After a foul by Edson Álvarez, Roma were awarded a free kick on the edge of the penalty area. Pellegrini delivered a sustainable bet, but Scherpen completely misjudged the free kick that was lifted over the wall. The goalkeeper dived too quickly towards the corner and saw the ball fall into the goal around him. Ten Hag intervened by bringing Brian Brobbey in for David Neres and the young striker quickly got a great opportunity, after Nicolás Tagliafico had also delivered a dangerous shot.
AS Roma is 1-1 after a free kick by Lorenzo Pellegrini and an error by Kjell Scherpen. #ajarom #UEL pic.twitter.com/YsWY6A5uRH
– VTBL? (@vtbl) April 8, 2021
Devyne Rensch will miss the return in a week in Rome, because the defender pulled the emergency brake with twenty minutes to go, received a yellow card and therefore runs into a suspension. It was one of the dangerous counters that Roma was looking for, while Ajax was looking emphatically for victory. This way, López prevented Antony from putting the 2-1 on the scoreboard with a heel. The Roma goalkeeper was again an obstacle for the Brazilian attacker for a few minutes, who saw a stylish volley being tapped under the bar after a cross by Tadic.
In the final phase Ajax explicitly searched for the winning goal, while Roma was no longer in a hurry. Shortly before the end, the Romans were still victorious. A corner kick was extended by Klaassen, causing it to fall at the feet of Ibañez. The Brazilian defender did not hesitate and shot the winning goal hard against the ropes. Tagliafico was then still close to the equalizer, but in the end Ajax could no longer clear the gap in the few minutes remaining.