Ajax cannot overcome Rulli’s penalty kick and foul and strands in Europe | Football

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23 Feb 2023 at 22:55

Ajax failed to reach the eighth finals of the Europa League on Thursday. The team from Amsterdam lost 3-1 at Union Berlin, a result that meant European elimination after the earlier 0-0 in Amsterdam.

A debatable VAR moment broke the spell at Stadion An der Alten Försterei in Berlin. Calvin Bassey received the ball in the penalty area and referee Ricardo de Burgos pointed to the spot on the advice of the VAR. Robin Knoche hit from 11 meters.

Just before the break, Ajax received a second blow. Keeper Gerónimo Rulli blundered at a shot by Josip Juranovic and saw the ball disappear into the goal: 2-0. Moments before, Mohammed Kudus thought he would score on behalf of Ajax, but the Ghanaian was offside.

Kudus was accurate immediately after the break, but former Ajax player Danilho Doekhi headed in on behalf of the home team a few minutes later: 3-1. Ajax couldn’t do much after that, so elimination was a fact. It meant Ajax’s first defeat under trainer John Heitinga (five victories, one draw).

There are only two Dutch clubs active in Europe. Feyenoord and AZ will resume their campaign in the eighth finals of the Europa League and Conference League respectively in March. PSV was eliminated by Sevilla earlier in the day despite a 2-0 win in Europe.

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VAR intervention and mistake Rulli hurt Ajax

Heitinga conjured up a new tactical variant in Berlin, so that left back Owen Wijndal had to sit on the bench. Ajax played in a three-man rear guard with Bassey, Jurriën Timber and Devyne Rensch. Edson Álvarez moved to the midfield, which consisted of four players.

Ajax had the upper hand, but concrete opportunities were not forthcoming at first. Union had little to fear from the visit and, just like in the Johan Cruijff ArenA, was lurking on the counter. After fifteen minutes, Union Berlin was helped in the saddle by the VAR.

Bassey got the ball headed against the arm, but the defender seemed unable to avoid contact. Referee De Burgos did not give a penalty at first, but after viewing the images, the Spaniard still pointed to the spot. Knoche’s penalty kick was touched by Rulli, but the goalkeeper could not prevent a goal: 1-0.

In the final phase of the first half, Ajax claimed the equalizer. Kudus seemed to score after good preparatory work by Tadic and Bergwijn, but the Ghanaian was offside.

A blunder by Rulli resulted in another blow for Ajax just before the break. The Argentinian was unable to reverse a simple long shot from Juranovic, so Ajax had to score twice in the second half to force extra time.

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Former Ajax player Doekhi gives final blow

Kudus immediately made itself known after the break. The attacker touched a spinning cross from Steven Bergwijn, after which the ball ended up in the goal behind goalkeeper Frederik Rønnow.

Ajax had not finished cheering or it was already 3-1 for Union Berlin. Doekhi, who has been active in Ajax’s youth for two years since 2016, got rid of his direct opponent Timber at a corner and hit the ball hard. Rulli touched the ball, but was unable to turn the bet.

Ajax then searched diligently for the tying goal, but the visitors could hardly find a hole in the Berlin defense. With a few saves, Rulli ensured that a major defeat was not forthcoming.

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