Ajax advances to Conference League play-offs after draw with Shelbourne

Ajax has secured a place in the 2026/27 UEFA Conference League play-offs following a 2-2 draw against Shelbourne FC in Dublin. Despite the draw at Tolka Park, Ajax advances with a 5-3 aggregate victory after winning the first leg 3-1.

Goalkeeper Maarten Paes started the match for Ajax, filling in for Marc-André ter Stegen, who was not fully fit. Paes faced significant pressure, conceding two goals—one from an Evan Caffrey long-range shot and another from a late Sean Moore strike—while making several key saves to keep the scoreline competitive.

Ajax took an early lead in the 20th minute through Julian Brandt, and Anton Gaaei doubled the advantage before halftime. However, the team struggled in the second half, facing intense pressure from the Irish side. Ajax manager Míchel Sánchez expressed dissatisfaction with the team's performance, specifically citing a failure to win 50 percent of their duels and issues with man-marking.

In the upcoming play-off round, Ajax is scheduled to face the Swiss club Sion.