Overview
- Ajax beat Shelbourne 3-1 at the Johan Cruyff ArenA on Thursday after racing into a 3-0 lead before conceding a late consolation.
- Mika Godts opened the scoring from a VAR-awarded penalty, Owen Wijndal added a second, Kasper Dolberg made it 3-0, and Daniel Kelly pulled one back late for Shelbourne; Godts later missed a second penalty saved by Conor Beach.
- Coach Míchel Sánchez started with Maarten Paes in goal and kept most summer signings, including Marc ter Stegen and Julian Brandt, on the bench with Brandt making a substitute debut.
- The tie remains undecided with the return leg at Tolka Park next Thursday, and the winner will advance to the Conference League play-offs.
- Ajax reached this round after an 8-2 aggregate win over FK Vojvodina while Shelbourne progressed past Nõmme Kalju and arrive with mixed domestic form, and the first leg was broadcast live with a free Ziggo Sport stream available.