Match report

Union St. Gilloise Upsets Ajax 2-1 in Europa League Clash

Ajax
Ajax
1–2
AET
Union St. Gilloise
Union St. Gilloise
Feb 20, 2025

In a remarkable display of resilience and tactical acumen, Union St. Gilloise upset top-ranked Ajax 2-1 in the UEFA Europa League on Tuesday night at Johan Cruyff Arena. The match was marred by an early red card for D. Klaassen, but Ajax's early yellow cards to J. Henderson and Lucas Rosa foreshadowed their eventual downfall. Goals from K. Mac Allister and P. David secured Union St. Gilloise’s lead, with a late penalty by K. Taylor providing a glimmer of hope for the home side.

Key Facts

  • • Ajax 1-2 Union St. Gilloise (UEFA Europa League)
  • • D. Klaassen received a red card in the 25th minute, leaving Ajax with ten players for most of the match.
  • • K. Mac Allister scored Union St. Gilloise's first goal in the 16th minute.
  • • P. David converted a penalty to double Union St. Gilloise's lead in the 28th minute.
  • • Ajax's only goal was a late penalty by K. Taylor in the 93rd minute.

Lineups

Ajax

Formation: 4-3-1-2

Starting XI

  • 22 R. Pasveer (G)
  • 2 Lucas Rosa (D)
  • 37 J. Šutalo (D)
  • 24 D. Rugani (D)
  • 4 J. Hato (D)
  • 31 J. Mokio (M)
  • 18 D. Klaassen (M)
  • 28 K. Fitz-Jim (M)
  • 23 S. Berghuis (M)
  • 29 C. Rasmussen (F)
  • 17 O. Edvardsen (F)

Substitutes

  • 8 K. Taylor
  • 20 B. Traoré
  • 3 A. Gaaei
  • 13 A. Kaplan
  • 11 M. Godts
  • 6 J. Henderson
  • 36 D. Janse
  • 59 D. Konadu
  • 42 N. Verschuren
  • 63 S. Steur
  • 51 C. Setford
  • 52 P. Reverson

Union St. Gilloise

Formation: 3-4-1-2

Starting XI

  • 49 A. Moris (G)
  • 5 K. Mac Allister (D)
  • 16 C. Burgess (D)
  • 28 K. Machida (D)
  • 25 A. Khalaili (M)
  • 4 M. Rasmussen (M)
  • 27 N. Sadiki (M)
  • 22 O. Niang (M)
  • 23 S. Boufal (F)
  • 9 F. Ivanović (F)
  • 12 P. David (F)

Substitutes

  • 10 A. Ait El Hadj
  • 13 K. Rodríguez
  • 6 K. Van de Perre
  • 77 M. Fuseini
  • 26 R. Sykes
  • 48 F. Leysen
  • 1 V. Chambaere
  • 14 J. Imbrechts
  • 33 S. Berradi
  • 32 M. Asri

Timeline

  1. Ajax
    ?' Ajax Card · Yellow Card
    J. Henderson

    Argument

  2. Union St. Gilloise
    16' Union St. Gilloise Goal · Normal Goal
    K. Mac Allister · Assist: S. Boufal
  3. Ajax
    25' Ajax Card · Red Card
    D. Klaassen

    Professional handball

  4. Union St. Gilloise
    28' Union St. Gilloise Goal · Penalty
    P. David
  5. Ajax
    32' Ajax Card · Yellow Card
    Lucas Rosa

    Foul

  6. Ajax
    41' Ajax subst · Substitution 1
    Off: Christian Rasmussen · On: K. Taylor
  7. Ajax
    46' Ajax subst · Substitution 2
    Off: O. Edvardsen · On: Bertrand Traoré
  8. Ajax
    46' Ajax subst · Substitution 3
    Off: S. Berghuis · On: A. Gaaei
  9. Ajax
    46' Ajax subst · Substitution 4
    Off: D. Rugani · On: Ahmetcan Kaplan
  10. Union St. Gilloise
    59' Union St. Gilloise Card · Yellow Card
    S. Boufal

    Argument

  11. Ajax
    61' Ajax subst · Substitution 5
    Off: Lucas Rosa · On: M. Godts
  12. Union St. Gilloise
    61' Union St. Gilloise subst · Substitution 1
    Off: S. Boufal · On: A. Ait El Hadj
  13. Ajax
    71' Ajax Card · Yellow Card
    Ahmetcan Kaplan

    Foul

  14. Union St. Gilloise
    73' Union St. Gilloise Card · Yellow Card
    N. Sadiki

    Foul

  15. Union St. Gilloise
    73' Union St. Gilloise subst · Substitution 2
    Off: P. David · On: K. Rodriguez
  16. Ajax
    90' Ajax subst · Substitution 6
    Off: J. Mokio · On: J. Henderson
  17. Union St. Gilloise
    93' Union St. Gilloise Card · Yellow Card
    A. Khalaili

    Argument

  18. Ajax
    93' Ajax Goal · Penalty
    K. Taylor
  19. Union St. Gilloise
    94' Union St. Gilloise subst · Substitution 3
    Off: M. Rasmussen · On: K. Van De Perre
  20. Union St. Gilloise
    94' Union St. Gilloise subst · Substitution 4
    Off: A. Khalaili · On: M. Fuseini
  21. Union St. Gilloise
    99' Union St. Gilloise Card · Yellow Card
    K. Mac Allister

    Foul

  22. Ajax
    101' Ajax Card · Yellow Card
    K. Taylor

    Time wasting

  23. Union St. Gilloise
    105' Union St. Gilloise Card · Yellow Card
    Christian Burgess

    Foul

  24. Union St. Gilloise
    105' Union St. Gilloise subst · Substitution 5
    Off: Christian Burgess · On: R. Sykes
  25. Union St. Gilloise
    105' Union St. Gilloise subst · Substitution 6
    Off: N. Sadiki · On: F. Leysen
  26. Union St. Gilloise
    120'+5 Union St. Gilloise Card · Yellow Card
    K. Van De Perre

    Argument

Match Stats

Stat Ajax Union St. Gilloise
Fouls 17 21
Pass Accuracy 71% 86%
Offsides 1 3
Red Cards 1 0
Total Shots 7 34
Corners 1 12
Total Passes 370 716
Yellow Cards 6 6
Blocked Shots 1 9
Shots on Target 5 11
xG 1.72 4.02
Shots off Target 1 14
Possession 33% 67%
Goals Prevented 1 1
Accurate Passes 262 614
Shots Inside Box 6 23
Saves 8 4
Shots Outside Box 1 11

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ The red card given to D. Klaassen for professional handball in the 25th minute shifted momentum heavily towards Union St. Gilloise, allowing them to capitalize on their numerical advantage.
  • ▸ Union St. Gilloise's second goal from P. David via a penalty in the 28th minute secured their lead and demoralized Ajax despite multiple substitutions by the home team.