AFC Ajax salvaged something from a disappointing season by defeating FC Utrecht on penalties in Sunday’s play-off final in Volendam, securing a place in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers.

Ajax reached the final after a 2-0 semi-final win over FC Groningen on Thursday, while Utrecht booked their spot with a 3-2 victory over SC Heerenveen on the same night.

Interim coach Óscar García made further adjustments in what is likely to be his final match in charge, with Kasper Dolberg and Youri Regeer both restored to the starting XI in place of Wout Weghorst and Sean Steur.

The first clear opportunity fell to Utrecht, who had beaten Ajax in Amsterdam just two weeks earlier thanks to a late header from Mike van der Hoorn. The defender almost struck again inside two minutes, but his early effort narrowly missed the target.

It went on to be the best opportunity of the half, as FC Utrecht and AFC Ajax both created chances through Souffian El Karouani, Steven Berghuis, Aaron Bouwman, and Lucas Rosa, but none were able to break the deadlock before the interval.

AFC Ajax then grew into the game late in the first half and carried that momentum after the restart, with Aaron Bouwman going close from a corner and Jorthy Mokio striking the crossbar early in the second period.

FC Utrecht had their main threat through Sébastien Haller, who wasted a big chance after Mike van der Hoorn flicked on a free kick, while Ajax also struggled to apply sustained pressure as the match remained goalless after 90 minutes.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 96th minute when Davy Klaassen put AFC Ajax ahead, reacting quickest to a loose ball from a corner and firing a first-time effort into the bottom corner past Vasilis Barkas.

AFC Ajax almost sealed the win before half-time in added time when Mika Godts struck the crossbar after Vasilis Barkas got fingertips to his powerful effort.

However, in a pattern that has defined Ajax’s season, the Amsterdam side emerged from the break with a lack of intensity and were punished almost immediately, as Gjivai Zechiël equalised within a minute — meeting a loose ball in the air and leaving Maarten Paes with no chance.

The frame of the goal continued to frustrate Ajax, with Maher Carrizo later heading against the post as FC Utrecht pushed for a response.

Heated penalty shootout

With both sides visibly fatigued after a long season in the Volendam heat, neither could find a winner in normal time, forcing the tie to be settled by penalties.

The shootout began with drama as Sébastien Haller stepped up for Utrecht against his former club, but saw his effort saved as Paes reacted well to keep it out.

That miss handed the initiative to Ajax, and captain Davy Klaassen converted to give them an early advantage. From there, both teams traded successful penalties across the next six attempts, with the contest going down to the final kicks in a tense sudden-death finish.

With his final kick for the club, FC Utrecht’s Souffian El Karouani was denied by Maarten Paes, sealing a decisive moment that ultimately saved AFC Ajax’s season.

The hard-fought win in Volendam ensured Ajax secured a place in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers, avoiding a major setback by ensuring they will not record a first absence from European football since the 1989/90 campaign.

The Amsterdam side will now enter the UEFA Conference League at the second qualifying round stage in July.