Ajax crashes out of Europa League after late Rosenborg heroics

Rosenborg super substitute Samuel Adegbenro scored twice in the final 10 minutes of Thursday’s Europa League qualifier against Ajax to send the Dutch club crashing out of the competition.

Having already been eliminated by OGC Nice in the third round of the Champions League, Ajax lost 3-2 in Norway after losing the first leg to Rosenborg at home.

It’s the first time Ajax has failed to qualify for the main draw of a European competition since 1965-66, according to ESPN’s Paul Carr. Back then, a teenaged Johan Cruyff was only in his second season with the Amsterdam outfit.

“There will be long weeks,” defender Joel Veltman said after the match.

It’s been a disappointing start to the 2017-18 season, especially after reaching the Europa League final in May. The departures of Bertrand Traore, Davy Klaassen, and Davinson Sanchez, along with manager Peter Bosz, have had a negative effect on Ajax’s outlook.

Unfortunately, this is now life for the four-time European champion, which cannot expect to compete financially with Europe’s elite.

The loss of Champions League and Europa League revenue will only weaken Ajax’s spending power for the campaign ahead.