Ajax crashed out of the UEFA Champions League qualifiers at the third round after slipping to a 5-4 aggregate defeat to Rapid Vienna, and now face a battle to qualify for the Europa League.
Despite having two away goals in their favour after a 2-2 draw at the Ernst Happel Stadion, Ajax conceded simple goals from Rapid’s Robert Beric and Louis Schaub in the first half to squander home advantage and leave themselves with a mountain to climb in the second period.
A stunning volley from Arkadiusz Milik and a Nemanja Gudelj strike from the edge of the box levelled the tie at 4-4 on aggregate with 75 minutes played, but Schaub struck again just two minutes later, curling a fine effort into the top corner of the net to end Ajax coach Frank de Boer’s hopes of Champions League qualification.
Meanwhile, Monaco cruised through to the play-offs with an emphatic 7-1 aggregate win over Young Boys.
Leonardo Jardim’s side went into the home leg of their third-round tie with a 3-1 cushion and, after a goalless first half at Stade Louis II, they put their Swiss opponents to the sword once again.
New signing Ivan Cavaleiro opened the scoring with a fine, bending shot from a tight angle, before further goals followed from Layvin Kurzawa, Anthony Martial and another new signing, Stephan El Shaarawy.
APOEL, meanwhile, lost 1-0 at home to FC Midtjylland in a tie that finished 2-2 on aggregate and saw the Cypriots go through to the play-offs on the strength of the two away goals they scored in the first leg.
