Good start
Ajax's first shot at goal came just ten seconds into the game. Steven Bergwijn, wearing the captain's armband, saw his shot blocked by one of the German defenders. Amsterdam were in command throughout the initial stages. This did not lead to many great opportunities in the first twenty minutes.
The host side came very close to scoring the opener moments later thanks to Phillip Tietz, but his attempt just wasn't strong enough. Brian Brobbey saw the biggest opportunity 32 minutes into play. The Ajax striker found himself clear in front of the goal, but played straight into the keeper's feet. It fell to the opponents to score the opening goal, just before half-time: a cross from the right was deflected and slipped right through Rulli's fingers: 1-0.
Brobbey draws level
Mika Godts and Francisco Conceição substituted for Bergwijn and Mohamed Daramy from the start of the second half. And then Brobbey was taken down in the penalty area ten minutes after play resumed. The referee pointed to the spot and the striker himself squared up behind the ball. With some success: Brobbey gave the goalkeeper no chance and brought Ajax level: 1-1.
Substitute Conceição then broke through twice, his second chance being particularly exciting: the Portuguese player took advantage of a mistake in the German defence back row, but found only the goalkeeper's legs.
Instead, it was the host team who scored next. Sven Michel was sent down deep on the left and shot hard into the near corner: 2-1. Moments later, the referee was pointing to the penalty spot again. This time for the other team. Once again, Michel took full advantage of the opportunity: 3-1. And that is how it stayed, despite one great attempt from Brobbey.
FC Augsburg – Ajax 3-1 (1-0)
42. Rulli (o.g.) 1-0
56. Brobbey (pen.) 1-1
69. Michel 2-1
76. Michel (pen.) 3-1
Ajax: Rulli; Rensch (83. Salah-Eddine), Aertssen (75. Klaassen), Hato, Wijndal; Tahirović, Van den Boomen, Taylor; Daramy (46. Conceição), Brobbey, Bergwijn (46. Godts)
