Underdogs Shelbourne rally to win famous European draw against dim Ajax

[p]With [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ajax/8UOvIwnb/"]Ajax[/a] up 3-1 after the first leg in Amsterdam, manager Michel Sanchez continued making several changes in his starting XI. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/psg/CjhkPw0k/"]PSG[/a] target [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/godts-mika/CIrbY1Ml/"]Mika Godts[/a] started on the bench, just like last weekend against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/zwolle/r1L5w2EB/"]PEC Zwolle[/a], while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/carrizo-maher/OGC8FwG9/"]Maher Carrizo[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/marcos-leonardo/OW4BpjD0/"]Marcos Leonardo[/a] were given starts in attack. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/brandt-julian/hW5Goyrc/"]Julian Brandt[/a] made his maiden start for the Amsterdam giants in midfield.[/p][p]Ajax started on the front foot and opened the scoring within 20 minutes via Julian Brandt, who sent a low cross into the box and was helped by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/blind-daley/U5mPqlh6/"]Daley Blind[/a]'s smart stepover, which helped the ball land in the far corner for the 1-0.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/shelbourne/OjQROO8j/"]Shelbourne[/a] responded swiftly via [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/caffrey-evan/WUBRpoJR/"]Evan Caffrey[/a], whose shot from way out was deflected by teammate [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/freitas-rodrigo/QeOKxrLk/"]Rodrigo Freitas[/a], causing it to fly past [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/paes-maarten/QZUlDAhp/"]Maarten Paes[/a] into the top corner.[/p][embed guid="9e9db790-4d6b-4663-96e0-01cd288f2335" url="https://x.com/shelsfc/status/2088003856911274012?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]As Shelbourne failed to properly clear a blocked shot from Carrizo, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gaaei-anton/Cb4do3Z5/"]Anton Gaaei[/a] stepped up and fired a rocket at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/beech-eddie/phAsR5G2/"]Eddie Beach[/a], who stood without a chance as the Dane's shot flew in between him and his near post to restore Ajax's lead.[/p][p]Instead of stepping up, Ajax kept disappointing in Ireland and momentarily even conceded another goal to Shelbourne, who currently sit in fifth in the Irish Premier Division, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mbeng-milan/KjxFMb8S/"]Milan Mbeng[/a]'s goal was cancelled for offside halfway through the second half.[/p][p]Neither team had fired an attempt on goal prior to the 85th minute, when Shelbourne did score the 2-2 through 21-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/moore-sean/W4fxzWeM/"]Sean Moore[/a], who beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/caio-henrique/dr5D8pxI/"]Caio Henrique[/a] in a 1-on-1 and beautifully sent the ball into the top corner.[/p][image alt="Key match stats" id="edfb3f58-1afe-4fac-be4d-4b206823cb72" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="4627135d-71ec-4686-bb73-f1c12810594e" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare recorded Ajax's first attempt on goal in the 89th minute, aiming a header at Beach, who tipped it over the bar.[/p][p]It was a very poor showing from Ajax, who left Ireland with a 2-2 draw and will enter the UEFA Conference League play-offs after a 5-3 aggregate win. In the play-offs, the Amsterdam outfit will face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sion/KbwIFIoN/"]FC Sion[/a] from Switzerland after their 4-3 aggregate win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/noah/IeATrtcs/"]Noah[/a].[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ajax-8UOvIwnb/shelbourne-OjQROO8j/?mid=S6cf4xMb"]Check out the full match statistics on Flashscore[/a][/b][/p]