Ajax take two-goal cushion to Ireland for Shelbourne return

Ajax will begin their return match away to Shelbourne with a two-goal advantage after winning the home leg 3-1. The Amsterdam side needed 50 minutes to establish a comfortable lead but were unable to finish the contest with a clean sheet.

Mika Godts, Owen Wijndal and Kasper Dolberg supplied the goals that put Ajax 3-0 ahead. Shelbourne subsequently pulled one back, preserving some hope for the second meeting in Ireland and preventing Míchel Sánchez’s team from taking an even more commanding margin into the return.

Ajax nevertheless remain in a strong position ahead of the away fixture. Shelbourne are currently fifth in the Irish standings, while the Dutch side travel with the benefit of having demonstrated their attacking threat through three different scorers in the first encounter.

The principal task for Ajax will be to protect their aggregate advantage while avoiding the lapse that allowed Shelbourne back into the tie. Another victory would complete a winning performance across both matches, but the Irish club’s late response in Amsterdam means Ajax still have work to do in the return.