Late Goals Deny Atalanta in Amsterdam

On Matchday 2 of the 2026/27 UEFA Conference League League Phase, Ajax claimed a late 2-0 victory at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam.

Ajax threatened in the 6th minute when Rosa's effort took a deflection off the Nerazzurri defence and struck the post. Three minutes later, Atalanta put together a fine attacking move, with Gaetano instinctively threading a through ball into Éderson's path behind the Dutch backline, who recovered quickly to cut out his cross intended for Scamacca. In the 14th minute, the Nerazzurri number 9 found space to shoot from the heart of the box following a sustained spell of intricate build-up play, but his effort was deflected behind for a corner. In the 28th minute, Carnesecchi was alert to keep out Mokio's effort from the edge of the box. Ajax had two attempts in the space of a minute around the 31-minute mark, first through Marcos Leonardo, whose angled right-footed effort went wide, and then Glouch, who fired straight at Carnesecchi. After a fine run from Zappacosta forced the Ajax defence to turn the ball behind for a corner, Wijndal tried his luck with a left-footed effort from the edge of the box, which went wide under Carnesecchi's watchful eye. The Nerazzurri goalkeeper then reacted sharply to Gloukh's angled effort in the 44th minute, getting down well to gather the ball. Atalanta had the final chance of the first half, with Gaetano firing a left-footed effort over the bar in stoppage time.

Early in the second half, Carnesecchi positioned himself well to deal with Brandt's attempted shot-cross. Atalanta responded through Zalewski, who did well to create space for a shot that flashed just wide of the post. Brandt then threatened again in the 50th minute, this time with a header that went wide. In the 53rd minute, De Ketelaere forced Ter Stegen into a save, but play was subsequently pulled back for a questionable offside decision. At the other end, Carnesecchi was called into action to parry Rosa's effort. In the 61st minute, Zalewski went down under a challenge inside the box, but the referee waved away Atalanta's penalty appeals. In the 64th minute, Zalewski won possession back in the attacking third, sparking a promising Atalanta move before the Ajax defence managed to snuff out the danger. The Nerazzurri were growing into the game, and a minute later substitute Samardžić tried his luck with a left-footed effort from the edge of the box that sailed over the bar. In the 77th minute, Arokodare managed to get a shot away following a corner, but his scuffed effort sailed over the bar. Ajax broke the deadlock in the 87th minute through Arokodare, who won an aerial duel before finding himself one-on-one with Carnesecchi and making no mistake to put the hosts 1-0 ahead. In the closing moments, the hosts doubled their lead through Ouazane, who fired a left-footed effort into the roof of the net.

The team will be back in training on Friday morning for a behind-closed-doors session at the Centro Bortolotti in Zingonia, as preparations get underway for the league clash against Frosinone.

AJAX 2-0 ATALANTA

Scorers: Arokodare 87 (AJ), Ouzane 90+3 (AJ)

Ajax: Ter Stegen, Rosa, Bouwman, Baas, Wijndal, Amrabat, Klaassen(Tsygankov 62), Mokio, Brandt (Janse 90+2), Marcos Leonardo (Arokodare 67), Gloukh (Ouazane 62). Unused Bench: Heerkens, Paes, Kehrer, Torrents, Bounida, Pugno, Abdalla. Coach: Michel.

Atalanta: Carnesecchi, Bellanova, Kristensen, Obrić, Zappacosta, Gaetano (Rowe 80), Éderson, Elmas (Pašalić 80), De Keteleare (62 Samardžić), Zalewski, Scamacca (Krstović 72). Unused Bench: Sonzogni, Sportiello, Idele, Levak, Bernasconi, Bonanomi, Isoa. Coach: Maurizio Sarri.

Referee: António Nobre (POR).
Assistant referees: Nelson Pereira (POR) and Francisco Pereira (POR).
Fourth official: David Rafael Oliveira Da Silva (POR).
V.A.R.: Juan Martinez Munuera (ESP).
A.V.A.R.: Ana Cláudia Silva Ribeiro (POR).

Notes: Stoppage time: 1 minute (1st half) 3 minutes (2nd half); Ambrabat (AJ), Samardžić (AT), Zalewski (AT), Ter Stegen (AJ) booked