AMSETRDAM--Ajax are flying high in the Europa League after they sealed a comfortable 3-0 victory over 9-man Qarabag.
In Azerbaijan, Ajax began with Wout Weghorst up front as Brian Brobbey was dropped down to the bench. The hosts gave Ajax an early scare by finding the net but it was ruled out for offside. After 15 minutes, Julio Romao was shown a straight red card for a last man foul and the hosts were reduced to ten men. It took until the 36th minute for Ajax to take advantage as Kenneth Taylor netted from close range. Qarabag still created chances until the 74th minute when Christian Rasmussen went down in the box and a penalty was awarded. Weghorst scored from the spot. Chuba Akpom then finished off a lovely move to make it 3-0 before Elvin Cafarquliyev was sent off for a rash challenge on Anton Gaaei. There were no further goals and Ajax currently sit in fourth place of the Europa League group with seven points. Elsewhere, Lazio defeated FC Twente 2-0 after Lars Unnerstall saw red early on.
After two draws, Twente went into the game looking for their first win of the competition but their plans were thrown out the window after only 11 minutes in Enschede. Lars Unnerstall was shown a straight red card for bringing down Boulaye Dia and Twente had to play with ten-men. From that point, Lazio dominated and the opening goal eventually fell after half an hour when Pedro found the net. It was initially given as offside but it was overturned. Twente were then on the end of a barrage as Lazio peppered their goal looking for a second. A penalty was awarded to Lazio but overturned after Mees Hilgers was deemed not to make a foul. It took until the 87th minute for Lazio to seal the victory as Gustav Isaksen finished off a swift attack. Twente remains on two points in the competition and they sit 28th out of 36 teams.
A second half penalty saw AZ Alkmaar lose 1-0 at Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League on Thursday. AZ Alkmaar lined up with the same eleven that lost at PSV Eindhoven at the weekend, while Tottenham made some changes that saw Micky van de Ven start on the bench while some other big names were rested. AZ Alkmaar lost Ruben van Bommel to a foot injury early on but they put in a good fight in the first half. Tino Werner missed a good chance for the hosts, but Fraser Forster had to make a good save to deny Alexandre Penetra. Denso Kasius also burst through on goal before the break but Forster denied the full-back. Eight minutes into the second half, Tottenham were awarded a penalty for a sloppy challenge from Maxim Dekker on Lucas Bergvall. Richarlison made it 1-0.
Ernest Poku threatened for AZ but an equaliser couldn’t be found as Forster made a good save to deny Mayckel Lahdo. David Møller Wolfe, who was sent off against PSV at the weekend, saw red again before the end after being shown a second yellow card. AZ stay on three points in the competition and they are 24th out of 36 times
