Ajax secured a comfortable 3-1 victory over Shelbourne in their Conference League third qualifying round match in Amsterdam. The Dutch giants controlled the game from the outset, with Shelbourne struggling to mount a meaningful challenge. At one stage, the Irish side appeared on the brink of a record defeat, as Ajax’s dominance left them in a precarious position (independent.ie).

The match saw several key moments, with Ajax’s attacking trio proving effective against Shelbourne’s defense. Midfielder Davy Klaassen praised the impact of recent signings, including Julian Brandt and Marc ter Stegen, who contributed to the win. Klaassen highlighted how the new additions have strengthened the team’s overall performance (voetbalprimeur.nl).

Manager Míchel Sánchez opted to rest several Dutch newcomers, including Owen Wijndal and Kasper Dolberg, choosing instead to field experienced players. This decision allowed the team to maintain stability throughout the match, ensuring a solid performance against the Irish club (vi.nl).

Sources
  • Irish Independent — PremiumLate Daniel Kelly goal atones for earlier errors from Shelbourne as Ajax cruise to victory in Amsterdam
  • voetbalprimeur.nl — Klaassen ziet Ajax enorme stap maken: 'Dat is wat je wil en maakt het team beter'
  • vi.nl — Míchel houdt Duitse nieuwelingen op de bank bij Ajax tegen Shelbourne