Hammarby's Dominant 3-1 Win Over Ajax in Europa Cup Round of 16 First Leg

In a thrilling first leg of the Europa Cup round of 16, Hammarby secured a commanding 3-1 victory against Ajax in Amsterdam. Julie Blakstad opened the scoring after 23 minutes with a volley, setting an early tone for the Swedish side. Early in the second half, Anna Jösendal impressed with a spectacular long-range shot into the top corner, doubling Hammarby’s lead 2-0. Despite missing a clear chance earlier, Ellen Wangerheim, Hammarby’s top scorer with 16 goals in the damallsvenskan, redeemed herself by netting the third goal in the 71st minute, putting her team firmly in control. Ajax managed a consolation goal shortly after, scored by Jonna van de Velde, but they face the challenging task of overturning a two-goal deficit when the return leg takes place on November 20. Hammarby will next focus on their final damallsvenskan match against Brommapojkarna as they ride high from this impressive European victory.

This result is a major boost for Hammarby, showcasing their strength against a traditionally strong opponent like Ajax and giving them a significant advantage heading into the second leg. Both sources highlight the key contributions of Blakstad, Jösendal, and Wangerheim that crafted this memorable win for the Swedish team.