Qarabag 2-4 Ajax: Gloukh's late brace seals first Champions League win

Ajax's wait for a first Champions League victory of 2025-26 came to an end as they battled from behind twice to beat Qarabag 4-2 on Wednesday. 

The Eredivisie giants were facing the prospect of losing six consecutive games in UEFA's flagship competition for the first time, but came up trumps in the closing stages. 

Oscar Gloukh and Anton Gaaei struck twice in three second-half minutes to complete the turnaround, with the former grabbing his brace in the dying embers. 

Despite a bright start, Ajax found themselves behind in the 10th minute when Elvin Cafarquliyev's long punt forward was not dealt with by Ko Itakura, allowing Camilo Duran to steal in and loft the ball over the on-rushing Vitezslav Jaros. 

Qarabag put their foot to the floor in search of a second, with Abdellah Zoubir blazing a glorious chance over the bar before Duran rippled the side-netting from close range. 

And the hosts' profligacy in front of goal was punished six minutes before the half-time whistle after Kasper Dolberg's fierce drive from distance nestled into the bottom-left corner. 

But two minutes after the restart, Qarabag edged back in front when Cafarquliyev's deflected cross made its way to the edge of the box, allowing Matheus Silva to smash home first time. 

Ajax should have drawn level when Don-Angelo Konadu put Gaaei's teasing cross straight at Mateusz Kochalski, but the visitors hauled themselves level soon after. 

Following a swift counter-attack, Gloukh cut inside from the left and squeezed his right-footed shot in at the near post, but there was to be more joy for caretaker boss Fred Grim. 

After being played into the box by Konadu, Gaaei sent a stunning shot into the roof of the net before Gloukh grabbed his second of the game with a composed 90th-minute finish. 

Data Debrief: Gloukh gets Ajax's European revival up and running

With Jorthy Mokio and Sean Steur, Ajax started a Champions League match with two players aged 17 or younger for the first time ever, but their young team certainly delivered to keep their hopes of reaching the play-offs alive. 

After being pegged back twice in the game, Ajax were just about deserving victors, having registered an expected goals (xG) total of 1.61 from their 20 shots to Qarabag's 1.09 from their seven attempts at Jaros' net. 

It was also a welcome return in front of goal in Europe for Ajax, who had scored just one goal, a Wout Weghorst penalty against Chelsea, coming into this game, with Gloukh key to their impressive display in the final third. 

Indeed, Gloukh ended the game with team-high totals for shots (five), chances created (four), passes in the final third (15), total crosses (six) and attempted dribbles (three), while he also won possession back more times (10) than anyone on the pitch.