Ajax travel to Dublin with 3-1 cushion after training at de Toekomst
AJAX — Dutch champions Ajax completed a final warm‑up at their training base, de Toekomst, on Wednesday before boarding a flight to Dublin to play Shelbourne FC on Thursday evening in the second leg of the UEFA Conference League third qualifying round.
The squad conducted an open 15 minutes of training for the media at the Amsterdam complex before the session continued behind closed doors. Later in the evening the players travelled to Ireland and visited the stadium where they will play, with the match scheduled to kick off at 20:45 CEST on Thursday, Aug. 13.
Ajax carry a 3-1 advantage into the return after winning the first leg at the Johan Cruyff Arena. Mika Godts, Owen Wijndal and Kasper Dolberg scored the home side’s goals, while Shelbourne reduced the deficit late in the contest.
Ajax will be looking to secure their place in the Conference League play‑offs after the positive first‑leg result.
What the trip means for the team and supporters
The quick turnaround from training at de Toekomst to travel underlines Ajax’s calendar in early August: balancing domestic league starts with European qualifying fixtures. The club opened its Eredivisie season with a 0-2 victory at PEC Zwolle, another early sign that the squad is juggling multiple competitions.
For supporters abroad — including those in Ajax, Ontario and Durham Region — the tie provides an early test of whether the squad retains the depth to sustain domestic and continental campaigns. The Conference League route matters for clubs aiming to extend their seasons and for players building form ahead of the league schedule.
- Training: final preparation at de Toekomst, open to media for 15 minutes
- Travel: squad flew to Dublin Wednesday evening
- Fixture: Shelbourne FC vs Ajax, Aug. 13, 20:45 (return leg)
- Aggregate: Ajax lead 3-1 from first leg
Recent form and squad notes
Ajax began the domestic season with a 0-2 win at PEC Zwolle in the VriendenLoterij Eredivisie. Substitute players Jorthy Mokio and Julian Brandt scored the goals that secured three points in that opening match. In the Conference League first leg, Mika Godts, Owen Wijndal and Kasper Dolberg found the net to build a commanding first‑leg lead.
| Match | Score / Detail |
|---|---|
| Ajax v Shelbourne FC (first leg) | Ajax 3–1 Shelbourne — Godts, Wijndal, Dolberg scorers |
| PEC Zwolle v Ajax (Eredivisie opener) | 0–2 Ajax — Mokio and Brandt scored |
| Return leg | Shelbourne FC v Ajax — Aug. 13, 20:45 |
Those results give Míchel Sánchez’s side both momentum and a challenge: protect the aggregate lead while managing players’ minutes across competitions. The brief public element of Wednesday’s training is standard practice at Ajax, giving media and supporters a short window to gauge team shape before preparations move behind closed doors.
For Ajax, Ontario residents who follow European fixtures, the tie is a reminder of how global club schedules compress preseason and early domestic fixtures into a hectic fortnight. Fans in this part of the province will be watching whether the Amsterdam club can convert its first‑leg advantage into progression to the Conference League play‑offs, which would add further fixtures to an already crowded calendar.
Photographs and club updates from the session were credited to AFC Ajax, which also confirmed the squad’s travel plans and the timing of the Dublin fixture.
As the squad settles in Dublin, the focus turns to the pitch on Thursday evening. A disciplined away performance would be sufficient to see Ajax through, while a spirited Shelbourne could still force a tighter contest — a familiar drama in early European qualifying rounds that often tests squad depth and experience.
