Shelbourne snatch a late goal in Ajax defeat ahead of Tolka Park second leg
Shelbourne FC suffered a 3-1 defeat against Ajax in the first leg of their Europa Conference League qualifier. Despite a late goal from Daniel Kelly, Ajax dominated the match at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Why it matters
This match highlights the competitive gap in European club football and the ongoing efforts of smaller clubs to compete on the continental stage.
A SPIRITED SHELBOURNE fell to a 3-1 defeat in the first leg of their Europa Conference League third round qualifier.
Mika Godts’ early penalty had the hosts in control after just six minutes, with Owen Wijndal grabbing a second shortly after. Kasper Dolberg made it three after the break as Daniel Kelly’s added a late consolation with a tidy finish.
What a moment for Daniel Kelly! 🙌 The @shelsfc man pulls a goal back against Ajax with a fantastic finish 🔴 pic.twitter.com/S2xaWqU5NP
The four-time European champions, off the back of a hugely disappointing fifth-place finish in the Eredivisie last season, meant they were participating in a competition their expectant fans would not be used to, but the sold-out Johan Cruyff Arena didn’t have long to wait to see their side take control of the tie.
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