Ghana’s Mohammed Kudus netted his fourth consecutive goal, but it was not enough as Dutch champions AFC Ajax were eliminated from the Europa League after losing a 3-1 match at Union Berlin on Thursday night.
Following a 0-0 draw in Amsterdam in the first leg, Ajax headed to Germany looking to win, and they started the game strongly.
However, the hosts were awarded a penalty when the ball hit Calvin Bassey’s arm in the box. Robin Knoche converted from the spot to make it 1-0 in the 20th minute.
Then a minute before the break, defender Josip Juranovic doubled the lead as his shot from outside the box slipped through the fingers of Ajax keeper Geronimo Rulli.
Ajax pulled a goal back two minutes into the second half with Kudus turning in a Steven Bergwijn cross.
But Union thwarted any comeback hopes of the visitors by restoring their two-goal lead via a Danilho Doekhi darting header just three minutes later.
Ajax are now out of Europe and will need to concentrate on the league title.
In the month of February, Kudus has scored four goals in a row – against FC Twente, RKC Waalwijk, Sparta Rotterdam and now Union Berlin. Overall, he has netted 16 goals in 31 appearances in all competitions so far in the 2022/23 season.
