In the land of the Alps, an energetic RB Salzburg put up a good show of resistance against the Ajax players in the opening phase. Yet Ajax took the lead in the 27th minute. Ajax were awarded a penalty after Owen Wijndal was brought down hard in the reigning Austrian national champions' penalty area.
Team captain Tadic exploited the excellent opportunity to the full, to make it 1-0. Five minutes later, Capaldo brought the scores level again from a tight cross, the Argentinian shooting from close range. Shortly before half time, Kudus put the Amsterdam side back in the lead once more. After a flawless pass from Steven Bergwijn, the Ghanaian headed the ball hard into the back of the net, pushing Ajax 2-1 ahead.
The goalscorer stayed behind in the dressing room after the tea break, Klaassen coming on for Kudus. Substitute Klaassen immediately played a big part in making it 3-1 to Ajax. After passing back and forth to Steven Berghuis, the 29-year-old Orange strip international passed the ball to Taylor, who then shot it right past Mantl in goal.
Ten minutes after Ajax had extended the lead, Schreuder made eight substitutions. With a number of new names playing, the Amsterdam team conceded their second goal: 3-2. Sean Klaiber set that all in motion, losing the ball thanks to some sloppy play. Striker Sesko pinched the ball from beneath the Ajax defender's feet, cut past Lisandro Magallán and outwitted Jay Gorter. Ajax have another pre-season friendly in Austria on Saturday. That's when they play Eintracht Frankfurt.
Ajax – Red Bull Salzburg 3-2 (2-1)
27. Tadic 0-1
32. Capaldo 1-1
40. Kudus 2-1
52. Taylor 3-1
71. Sesko 3-2
Ajax: Gorter; Rensch (63. Regeer), Schuurs (63. Klaiber), Blind (63. Magallán), Wijndal (63. Tagliafico); Álvarez (63. Hlynsson), Taylor (58. Fitz-Jim), Kudus (46. Klaassen); Berghuis (63. Hansen), Tadic (63. Rasmussen), Bergwijn (63. Daramy)
