Sports
KENNETH Taylor struck in extra time to send Ajax into the last 16 of the Europa Conference League at the expense of Bodo/Glimt with a 4-3 aggregate win.
After a 2-2 draw in the first leg, Ajax took the lead in this game through Steven Berghuis’ finish on the turn.
Josip Sutalo was red-carded for Ajax early in the second half, before Albert Gronbaek was sent off for Bodo/Glimt.
Patrick Berg drove in an equaliser to take the game to extra time, where Taylor curled in the winner.
Bodo/Glimt hit the woodwork three times during the match as former Champions League winners Ajax, who were without England midfielder Jordan Henderson, rode their luck to ensure they progressed.
The draw for the last-16 stage takes place on Friday at 12:00 GMT in Nyon, Switzerland.
Eintracht Frankfurt, who won the 2021-22 Europa League, had their hopes of more trophy success thwarted by Belgian league leaders Union SG.
A thrilling first leg had ended 2-2 and it took until after the break for the second leg to come to life as Union SG scored twice through Cameron Puertas and Dennis Eckert.
Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe pulled a goal back but Union SG held firm to secure a 4-3 aggregate win.
Dinamo Zagreb came from behind to draw 1-1 with Real Betis and progress to the last 16 with a 2-1 aggregate win.
Cedric Bakambu put Spanish side Betis ahead with a flicked finish at the near post to level the tie, but Takuro Kaneko struck from close range in the 59th minute to send the Croatians through.
Greek giants Olympiakos progressed as Ayoub El Kaabi’s first-half penalty was enough to seal a 2-0 aggregate win against Hungary’s Ferencvaros.
A 3-0 win for Norwegians Molde cemented a 6-2 aggregate thrashing of Legia Warsaw of Poland, while Austrian side Sturm Graz went through as 5-1 winners on aggregate against Slovan Bratislava after a 1-0 win in Slovakia.
Swiss side Servette reached the last 16 of the competition for the first time as Timothe Cognat’s first-half goal was enough to secure a 1-0 aggregate win against Bulgarians Ludogorets.
BBC
23rd February, 2024.
C.E.
Tags: Ajax KENNETH Taylor
