Ajax routs ten-man Midtjylland 6-1 in Herning for second straight Conference League win

Ajax take control in Herning

Ajax won 6-1 at FC Midtjylland in Herning on 5 November, their second consecutive win in the Conference League. The kick-off was delayed by about fifteen minutes after the floodlights failed during the warm-up, and smoke from the pre-match fireworks made the start hard to manage. Ajax appeared least troubled by the delay and took the initiative after a messy opening. Midtjylland, who had been unbeaten in the Danish league this season, reached the round of 16 of the Europa League last season and had taken only one point from their first two Conference League matches. Ajax coach Míchel Sánchez picked Youri Baas as the controlling midfielder, with Dies Janse and Thilo Kehrer in central defence.

Goals and the red card

Tolu headed Ajax in front in the ninth minute, rising to a corner from Oscar Gloukh. Midtjylland equalised in the 28th minute, when referee Pawel Raczkowski allowed the goal, judging that Kehrer had been the one blocking the striker and using his arms. Denil Castillo later had a chance to put the hosts 2-1 ahead, but his close-range shot went straight into the hands of goalkeeper Marc ter Stegen. Shortly before half-time Kjell-Arik Wätjen was shown a second yellow card, leaving Midtjylland with ten men.

Second-half rout

Ajax took full advantage of the extra man after the break. Tolu scored again in the 52nd minute, his second goal of the evening, to make it 1-2. Owen Wijndal struck with a hard, accurate shot just under an hour into the match, after a pass from Tolu, to make it 1-3. Davy Klaassen headed in after a cross from Wijndal, and Gloukh cut inside from the left to fire in the fifth goal.

Late goal and context

Marcos Leonardo came on as a substitute and scored in the 82nd minute to set the final score at 1-6, ending a spell without a goal since 30 August. Ter Stegen made a save from a shot by a substitute, and Baas headed just wide after a cross from Gloukh. Ajax were without the injured Julian Brandt and Sofyan Amrabat, and Yves Bissouma was not eligible to play in the European match. The win was Ajax's fifth in a row in all competitions, and it followed their first victory over AZ in more than four years. Ajax are on six points in the Conference League after losing their opening match to Hajduk Split.