Ajax Edge Atalanta 2-0 Thanks to Late Double

Ajax waited for their moment and won it

Ajax came close in the sixth minute, when a deflected Lucas Rosa shot rattled the woodwork. Atalanta replied by sending Ederson through into the gap left behind the home back line. In the 14th minute, an Ajax defender got a touch on Gianluca Scamacca’s effort and forced a corner.

Carnesecchi pushed away a strike from Jorthy Mokio taken from just outside the box. Marcos Leonardo sent his attempt wide, and Oscar Gloukh made the goalkeeper work before the interval. At the other end, Gianluca Gaetano blasted over during added time at the end of the first half, leaving the score goalless despite chances for both sides.

A change of personnel altered how Ajax attacked

Atalanta stayed a threat once play resumed. Nicola Zalewski narrowly missed the target, Charles De Ketelaere pushed a shot that ter Stegen had to hold, which was ruled out for offside, and Zalewski later called for a penalty. Ajax brought on Tolu to serve as the focal point for long, forward balls.

That switch settled the game in the 87th minute. Tolu won a header in the air, raced clear one-on-one with Carnesecchi and kept his cool to finish. Ajax were finally rewarded after several earlier tests of the goalkeeper.

Ouazane doubled the lead on the counter

Ajax sealed the win in the third minute of stoppage time. Ouazane got into space inside the area and curled a left-footed shot into the top corner. Atalanta were left with almost no time to respond before the referee blew for full time.

Ajax took both of their goals late on, yet the chances they created earlier were just as important. The hosts struck the post early on and put Carnesecchi under pressure more than once, while Atalanta had their own openings before Tolu and Ouazane made the decisive finishes.