The Ajax Women have been knocked out of the UEFA Women's Champions League. They were defeated 0-1 by Fiorentina in the qualifying round, with a goal from Madelen Janogy making the difference. Ajax will resume play in the Azerion Women's Eredivisie in three weeks with a home match against PEC Zwolle.
The Ajax Women secured a spot in the final of the mini-tournament in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Women's Champions League on Wednesday afternoon. Hesterine de Reus's team defeated Ukrainian side FC Kolos Kovalivka 4-1 after extra time. Tiny Hoekstra, Lotte Keukelaar, Danique Noordman, and Quinty Sabajo found the net in Brøndby, Denmark.
In the background, a Spanish woman sings a popular pop song. The sound of chatter and clinking glass fills the room. You can hear the Spanish servers pass on orders to each other. Amidst all this, Danique Tolhoek (19) sits down, raises her glass of soda and cheers. In the Spanish sun in a suburb of Madrid, the nineteen-year-old striker of the Ajax Women meets us for a chat. What follows is an open conversation about mental barriers, performing in a main tournament and her sky-high ambitions with the Ajax Women.
Ashleigh Weerden will leave the Ajax Women. The contract of the forward was expiring. She will leave the Ajax Women after two seasons for the English Crystal Palace.