Ajax started the new season with a narrow victory. The team of new coach Francesco Farioli did not perform convincingly at home in the second preliminary round of the Europa League against FK Vojvodina. Thanks to a late header by substitute Branco van den Boomen, they did win: 1-0. The return match is in Serbia in a week.

Farioli's line-up for his first official match at Ajax was surprising. Remko Pasveer was given a place in goal instead of Diant Ramaj, while Youri Baas surprisingly played in central defence. Steven Berghuis was not considered fit enough for a starting spot, which meant that Christian Rasmussen surprisingly started as a right winger.

Beforehand, the most talk was about Pasveer's surprising starting spot. The forty-year-old Ajax keeper started the match badly with two wrong passes through the middle of the field. Both times, there was immediate threat, but Ajax escaped unscathed.

Ajax then took control and created several big chances in the first half. A header by Jorrel Hato ended up in the hands of Vojvodina keeper Lazar Carevic via a half block. A few minutes later, Kenneth Taylor hit the top of the crossbar after a pass from Carlos Forbs.

Ajax's biggest chance came six minutes before half-time. Both Taylor and Forbs saw a free shot from the penalty area blocked on the goal line by a defender, after which Jordan Henderson brought the ball back in with a cross. Chuba Akpom was able to head from close range, but sent the ball wide.

Ajax's start in the second half was mediocre. The Amsterdammers did not come close to the Serbian goal in the first fifteen minutes after the break, after which Farioli decided to bring on Berghuis and Mika Godts.

Immediately afterwards Ajax became threatening. Godts passed on to the advancing Jorrel Hato on the left, who saw his low cross cleared by a defender. Taylor got a shooting chance from the second line, but the midfielder made poor contact with the ball. Ajax was less dominant than before half-time, but got another chance in the 68th minute. Akpom was able to head in freely from a corner kick, but gave the ball little power.

Then came the danger from the Serbians. First Pasveer saved with difficulty with his shoulder on a hard shot from Mihailo Ivanovic, then Ajax was beaten by Vovjodina. Aleksa Vukanovic came one-on-one with Pasveer, but tapped the ball onto the post. Ajax got away with it twice.

Just before time, Ajax took the lead. Godts sent a cross to substitute Van den Boomen, who the midfielder headed in like a seasoned striker: 1-0. The Amsterdammers thus take a narrow victory with them into the return match in Serbia.

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