Ajax 3-1 Shelbourne: Dominant win but missed chances keep tie alive (highlights)

Ajax laid a solid foundation for a place in the Conference League play-offs with a 3-1 first-leg victory over Shelbourne at the Johan Cruyff Arena on August 6, 2026, but missed chances left the door slightly ajar for the Irish side. The game-changing moment arrived inside five minutes when Mika Godts was brought down by Milan Mbeng, and after a VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot. Godts, who is wanted by Paris Saint-Germain, stepped up and calmly slotted the penalty straight down the middle to open the scoring in the 6th minute. Steven Berghuis then produced two moments of magic — first in the 22nd minute with a pinpoint cross that Owen Wijndal volleyed home, and again after the break when his curling delivery found Kasper Dolberg, who tapped in from close range in the 50th minute to make it 3-0. The Athletic noted that coach Michel Sanchez started most of his summer signings on the bench, with Julian Brandt making his debut in the 64th minute and Marcos Leonardo entering later, but both failed to find the net. Godts had a chance to grab his second from the spot in the 57th minute after a handball, but Welsh goalkeeper Eddie Beach guessed correctly and made the save. Shelbourne never gave up and pulled one back in the 84th minute — Maarten Paes parried Ali Coote's initial effort, but Daniel Kelly was alert to slot home the rebound. The statistics were staggering: Ajax had 71% possession and recorded 32 shots, 11 on target, while Shelbourne managed just 3 attempts. Can the Irish side overturn this deficit at Tolka Park, or will Ajax's dominance prove too much to handle?