Ajax Secures First Champions League Victory Against Qarabag
Ajax achieved their first victory of the Champions League campaign by overcoming Qarabag in Azerbaijan, coming from behind twice in the match.
The four-time European champions had faced a challenging start to the tournament, losing their first five matches. As they trailed 2-1 in the 79th minute, Oscar Gloukh's impressive 20-yard strike equalized the score.
Just three minutes later, Anton Gaaei delivered a powerful first-time shot to put the Dutch side ahead. Gloukh then secured the victory with a well-placed effort into the bottom corner in the 90th minute.
This win lifted Ajax from the bottom of the 36-team table. They are set to visit Villarreal on January 20 and will conclude the group stage at home against Olympiacos on January 28.
Despite this victory, Ajax's chances of finishing in the top 24 and continuing their European campaign into February appear slim, as they can only earn a maximum of nine points, whereas 11 were required last season.
The team's campaign has been challenging, featuring heavy defeats of 4-0, 5-1, and 3-0 against Marseille, Chelsea, and Galatasaray, respectively.
In a match played in heavy rain in Baku, Qarabag took an early lead in the 10th minute when Camilo Duran lofted the ball over advancing goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros.
Kasper Dolberg equalized for Ajax with a stunning 25-yard shot into the corner six minutes before halftime. However, Matheus Silva quickly restored Qarabag's lead with a low deflected effort right after the restart.
Qarabag, who have yet to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League, currently have seven points from six matches. They will host Eintracht Frankfurt on January 21, followed by an away match against Liverpool a week later.