Ajax draws Bodo/Glimt in Europa Conference League

Ajax avoided embarrassment in their UEFA Europa Conference League knock-out play-off clash against Bodo/Glimt, salvaging a 2-2 draw in a dramatic first-leg encounter. The Dutch giants found themselves trailing 2-0 for the majority of the match but staged a remarkable comeback with two goals in stoppage time, thanks to Steven Berghuis’s heroics.

Despite a two-month hiatus from competitive football, Bodo/Glimt stunned Ajax by taking the lead through Albert Grønbæk’s well-executed finish. The Norwegian side showcased their quality with a superb team goal, leaving Ajax goalkeeper Diant Ramaj rooted to the spot. The early setback left the home crowd shell-shocked as Bodo/Glimt continued to impress, with Fredrik André Bjørkan narrowly missing the target from distance.

Ajax struggled to find their rhythm initially, but gradually grew into the game. Tristan Gooijer came close with a whipped effort from 20 yards, while Kenneth Taylor and Chuba Akpom also tested the opposition goalkeeper with shots from similar distances. However, Ajax survived a scare when a misplaced pass from Ramaj threatened to gift Bodo/Glimt a second goal before being cleared off the line.

The second half saw Ajax continue to struggle, with Berghuis missing the target with a curling effort. Their task became even more daunting when Grønbæk capitalized on a fortunate deflection to double Bodo/Glimt’s lead. The goal appeared to sap the energy from the hosts, whose campaign seemed destined for another disappointing turn.

However, Ajax mounted a late resurgence, with Branco van den Boomen converting from the penalty spot after Brian Brobbey was fouled in the area. The momentum swung further in Ajax’s favor when Bodo/Glimt were reduced to ten men following Odin Bjørtuft’s dismissal for the foul. In the dying moments of added time, Berghuis delivered a moment of brilliance, chipping the ball over the goalkeeper to secure a vital equalizer for Ajax.

The result leaves the tie finely poised ahead of the second leg in Norway, with both teams level on aggregate.

In other Europa Conference League fixtures, Real Betis suffered a 1-0 defeat against Dinamo Zagreb, while Maccabi Haifa secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Gent. Servette and Ludogorets played out a goalless draw in their respective matchup.

Albert Grønbæk was awarded the Flashscore Man of the Match for his influential performance in Bodo/Glimt’s impressive display against Ajax.

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