Michel's Ajax loses 2-1 to Hajduk Split in Conference League opener

Ajax failed to back up their status as one of the Conference League favourites and fell 2-1 away to Hajduk Split in their first match of the competition. The Croatian side used a charged atmosphere, which led to the game being paused because of smoke from pyrotechnics, to secure their first three points of the tournament.

• Hajduk Split beat Michel's Ajax 2-1 in their Conference League opener.
• Sanyang and Soticek score the Croatian goals; Klaassen briefly levels.
• The referee stops the match due to thick smoke from flares and fireworks.
• Jofre Torrents gifts the second Croatian goal with a poor back pass.
• Tsygankov comes on in the second half but cannot prevent the Ajax defeat.

A toothless first half punished by Sanyang's goal

Ajax struggled to get going in Croatia. They created very little in the opening period and their possession was largely ineffective, while Hajduk Split grew more dangerous as the half went on and found space behind the Dutch defence.

In a direct move, Soticek drove through the middle and opened up play to the right for Sanyang, who beat Ter Stegen with a low cross-shot in the 37th minute. The goal settled the home side and left Michel's team without answers before the interval.

Klaassen levels before Soticek's instant response

After the break, Ajax found an equaliser quickly. Kehrer delivered the ball into the box and Klaassen, arriving from midfield, controlled it and finished across the goalkeeper to make it 1-1 in the 53rd minute.

The joy did not last long. Just two minutes later, a poor back pass from Jofre Torrents handed the ball to Sego, who set up Soticek to beat Ter Stegen and restore Hajduk Split's lead. The 2-1 in the 55th minute undid the visitors' reaction.

Flares from the Croatian crowd force the match to stop

With the score in their favour, Hajduk Split felt comfortable. The home side disrupted the rhythm with fouls and managed the clock without any rush, while Ajax grew frustrated with a slow build-up that lacked penetration.

The night became even more complicated when flares and pyrotechnic devices from the stands created a wall of smoke that made it impossible to continue playing normally. The referee paused the game for several minutes until conditions allowed play to resume.

Michel's substitutions fail to change the script

Michel turned to his bench in search of a final push and brought on Tsygankov among others. However, Ajax could not turn their possession into clear chances and left Croatia with a defeat that makes it harder to confirm their role as favourites in the Conference League.

What the defeat means for Ajax's Conference League hopes

The Conference League format leaves little room for early slip-ups, and starting with a defeat means Ajax must respond quickly in the coming rounds if they want to compete for the top positions that lead directly to the knockout stage. The Dutch side arrived as one of the strongest names in the tournament, but their opening performance raised questions about the pace and consistency Michel has been trying to build.