Late goals settle a tight match in Amsterdam

Ajax beat Atalanta 2-0 on 22 October in the second matchday of the Conference League league phase, at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam. Both goals came from players who entered from the bench: Tolu Arokodare scored at 87', and Abdellah Ouazane added a second in the closing minutes, reported at either 91' or 93' depending on the source. The win lifts Ajax level with Atalanta on three points. Ajax coach Míchel Sánchez watched his side create the better chances, yet it was the substitutes who decided the game.

Ajax control the play, Atalanta struggle to create

Ajax were the stronger side for most of the match, and Atalanta spent long spells defending their own half. Right-back Lucas Rosa had room to push forward, and one of his shots, deflected off an opponent, struck the post after just over five minutes. Atalanta were almost absent in the first half, with goalkeeper Carnesecchi making a couple of saves and Marcos Leonardo wasting a clear chance. Oscar Gloukh also saw many of his shots blocked. The hosts' intensity wore down the visitors, who were pinned in their own half, and Ajax kept the tempo high for the full 90 minutes.

Atalanta without four central defenders

Atalanta arrived without several regular defenders. Hien, Kossounou and Scalvini were injured, and Kolasinac was also out, so Sarri made six changes from the defeat in Milan. Scamacca returned as the centre-forward, and De Ketelaere kept his place despite a poor run of form. Sarri, speaking to Sky Sport after the match, admitted the late collapse was not what he had expected.

“I did not expect to lose in the last five minutes.”

He said his side had made an error that cost a goal, although the players could not be blamed too much, and that the positives outweighed the negatives. He called for better defending because four central defenders were missing that evening, and he stressed that his team is more offensive by nature.

Ajax's first Conference League win

This was Ajax's first win in the Conference League, following a 2-1 loss to Hajduk Split in an earlier match. Ajax had also beaten FC Groningen 5-2 in an earlier game, lining up in a similar shape. Captain Davy Klaassen was listed on the right wing but spent much of the match in central areas. Ajax play six league-phase matches in total, after which the best 24 teams advance to the knockout phase. The win was also Ajax's first home victory against an Italian club in European competition since 10 December 2002, when AS Roma lost 2-1 in Amsterdam.

What comes next

Atalanta face Frosinone on Sunday, 25 October, and then host Kairat in the third matchday, scheduled for early November. Ajax visit Midtjylland in that same round. Sarri's position is not in question and the club will continue on the same course, but the Frosinone game calls for concrete answers after Atalanta's second consecutive defeat.