Ajax Beat Utrecht on Penalties to Reach Conference League Qualifiers

Klaassen and Paes lead Ajax to Conference League dpot

Maarten Paes saved Souffian El Karouani’s penalty in the shootout, while Davy Klaassen scored in extra time and in the shootout.

Ajax avoid disaster, beat Utrecht on penalties to Reach Conference League qualifiers...

Ajax salvaged a positive from a difficult season by defeating FC Utrecht on penalties in Sunday’s playoff final in Volendam. The win secured the Amsterdam club a place in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers.

Ajax advanced after beating FC Groningen 2-0 in Thursday’s semifinal. Utrecht reached the final by edging sc Heerenveen 3-2 at home later that same evening.

Interim manager Oscar Garcia made more changes in what is likely his final game in charge. Kasper Dolberg and Youri Regeer came into the starting lineup, replacing Wout Weghorst and Sean Steur.

FV Utrecht created the first clear opportunity. The visitors had beaten Ajax in Amsterdam two weeks earlier with an injury-time header from Mike van der Hoorn. Van der Hoorn was involved again early in this match, but his attempt went just wide of Maarten Paes’ goal within the opening two minutes.

That chance remained the best of the half. Souffian El Karouani, Steven Berghuis, Aaron Bouwman, and Lucas Rosa all had shots on goal, but none could break the deadlock before halftime.

Ajax built momentum toward the end of the first half and carried it into the second. Aaron Bouwman went close from a corner, and Jorthy Mokio hit the crossbar early in the period.

Utrecht’s closest moment came through Sebastien Haller, who missed a good chance after Van der Hoorn flicked on a free kick with his head. Ajax did not put Utrecht under much pressure, and 90 minutes was not enough to decide who would advance to the Conference League.

Ajax finally took the lead in the 96th minute through Davy Klaassen. He reacted to a loose ball from a corner, volleyed it on the bounce, and sent it past Vasilis Barkas into the bottom corner.

Mika Godts almost sealed the game before the end of the first period of extra time. After Barkas got a fingertip to his shot, Godts struck the crossbar with a powerful effort.

True to a recurring theme this season, Ajax came out flat after the break and gave up the lead within a minute. Gjivai Zechiël volleyed the ball out of the air, beating Paes in the same fashion as Klaassen had done earlier.

The woodwork denied Ajax again after Zechiel’s goal. Maher Carrizo headed the ball against the post shortly afterward.

Gjivai Zechiël brengt met zijn gelijkmaker de Utrecht-supporters in extase 🤯#ajautr pic.twitter.com/mNVYebqIq6

— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) May 24, 2026

Penalties Decide It in the Heat

With players struggling in the Volendam heat after a 10-month season, neither side could find a winner in open play. The Dutch playoff was settled by a penalty shootout.

 

Davy Klaassen doet het weer voor Ajax in de play-offs: 1-0 in de 96e minuut 💥#ajautr pic.twitter.com/I0QD75pvwx

— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) May 24, 2026

Former Ajax striker Sebastien Haller took Utrecht’s first penalty but was denied by Paes, who made a clean save in the bottom corner. Ajax capitalized as captain Davy Klaassen converted to put his side ahead. The teams traded successful penalties for the next six rounds, leaving the shootout to be decided in the final moments of the best-of-five.

With his final kick for the club, FC Utrecht’s Souffian El Karouani was denied by Indonesia’s Maarten Paes. Paes’ save officially secured Ajax’s season.

Maarten Paes de 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐃 van Ajax in de penaltyreeks 🧤👏 #ajautr pic.twitter.com/enHThGTOPN

— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) May 24, 2026

The win in Volendam sends Ajax into the UEFA Conference League qualifiers and avoids a historic setback. It keeps the 1989/90 season as the last time the club failed to qualify for European competition. Ajax will enter the Conference League in the second qualifying round in July.