Ajax defeat Bodø/Glimt in extra-time to progress to UECL last 16 | OneFootball

Ajax defeated Bodø/Glimt 2-1 in extra-time and 4-3 on aggregate to progress to the Europa Conference League knockout last 16.

Scorers: Berg 83′; Berghuis 34′, Taylor 114′

Bodø/Glimt, who had led 2-0 in Amsterdam before being pulled back late on in the first-leg, started much the stronger, having near 75% of the ball in the opening 15 minutes.

Ajax had keeper Diant Ramaj to thank for keeping the game goalless for much of the first half, with the German making a series of strong stops.

Totally against the run of play and as tends to happen in football, the Dutch Giants took the lead in the 34th minute with their first shot on target.

Brian Brobbey found some space inside the box and pulled the ball back towards the penalty spot, where captain Steven Berghuis was on hand to powerfully bend a left-footed shot into the top corner.

Any hope of a calm second half for Ajax ended just three minutes into it when defender Josip Sutalo was sent off after VAR decided his last-man challenge warranted a straight red.

They held on with 10 men, and even with one hand when Borna Sosa clearly used his to stop a certain goal. The numbers were evened up just 18 minutes later, Albert Grønbæk receiving a second yellow for a reckless challenge.

Bodø/Glimt finally got the goal their play deserved in the 83rd minute. Midfielder Patrick Berg picked the ball up 25 yards from goal and fired low and hard into the Ajax net to send the Norwegian home crowd wild.

In the final minutes of regular time, the home side thought they had won it but Ulrik Saltnes was just offside when he tapped in from close range.

Bodø/Glimt missed another gilt-edged chance early into extra-time, Nino Zugelj firing well wide after rounding Ramaj. The angle was difficult but the forward had to do better.

Ajax settled down and eventually found the winning goal in the 114th minute through Kenneth Taylor. A corner found its way to the substitute on the edge of the box and his dangerous cross-cum-shot looped into the top corner of the net.