Ajax and PSV women beaten in Champions League play-off first legs

Ajax and PSV both face uphill tasks after losing the first legs of their final Women’s Champions League qualifying ties on Wednesday. PSV were beaten 1-0 by Danish side HB Køge at De Herdang, while Ajax fell to a 2-0 defeat against Real Madrid.

Kyra Carusa scored PSV’s only concession shortly before half-time. The forward struck following a corner, giving HB Køge a narrow advantage to defend in the return fixture.

Ajax also went behind just before the interval, when Felicia Schröder converted a free-kick for Real Madrid. Dutch player Janou Levels then added the visitors’ second from close range with a little over 15 minutes remaining, leaving Ajax needing a comeback in the second leg.

Both return matches are scheduled for next Wednesday. The play-off winners will advance to the Champions League main competition, while the defeated teams will enter the Europa Cup in its second qualifying round. Feyenoord also began their Europa Cup campaign with a loss, going down 2-1 away to Anderlecht in the first qualifying round. Romeé van de Lavoir scored Feyenoord’s goal, but her side had played with ten players from the 18th minute after Tess van Bentem received a red card.