Hajduk Split beat Ajax 2-1 at Poljud in the first round of the UEFA Conference League league phase on Thursday 15 October 2026. The result mattered to the home crowd for more than the three points: it was Hajduk's first match in the main stage of European competition for 16 years.
Ajax's Equaliser Lasts Two Minutes
Ajax's first chance came in the 7th minute, when Nigeria international Tolu Arokodare escaped Dennis Hadžikadunić and ran through on Toni Silić. Hadžikadunić recovered and blocked with a sliding tackle.
Abdoulie Sanyang opened the scoring for Hajduk in the 37th minute, set up by Marin Šotiček. Davy Klaassen equalised for Ajax in the 53rd minute, controlling a Thilo Kehrer cross and finishing precisely. Šotiček restored Hajduk's lead in the 55th minute, set up by Michele Šego after an error by Jofre Torrents.
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How Hajduk Punished Ajax's Errors
The match turned on how Hajduk used the ball once they won it. For the first goal, Šotiček won possession from Klaassen in midfield, drove forward and set up Sanyang, who finished into the far corner.
The second was worse for Ajax coach Michel Sánchez. A loose pass from Torrents handed Hajduk the ball, and Šego unselfishly squared it for Šotiček to finish from about ten metres. It was a costly evening for Torrents, whom Sánchez had picked for a first start at age 19 ahead of Owen Wijndal.
Sánchez's Selection and a 12-Minute Stoppage
Sánchez made two changes to his starting side. Aaron Bouwman returned after his injury against PSV, while Klaassen came in for Jorthy Mokio, who dropped to the bench. Mokio was one of four players introduced during the match, alongside Lucas Rosa, Oscar Gloukh and Marcos Leonardo.
Play was halted for around 12 minutes in the 77th minute as heavy smoke from flares forced the players back to the dressing rooms.
Schedule for the Next Rounds
The win made it two in a row for Hajduk, who beat Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 in the Croatian league derby at Poljud on 10 October, with Sanyang scoring the winner in that match.
Hajduk travel to Switzerland to face Thun in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday 22 October 2026. On the same day, Ajax host Atalanta at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam.
UEFA Conference League 2026-27: League Phase Table
After matchday 1 (each team has played 1 match)
| # | Team | GP | W | D | L | F | A | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 3 |
| 2 | F.C. København | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 3 |
| 3 | Trabzonspor | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 3 |
| 4 | Atalanta | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 3 |
| 5 | Mjällby AIF | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| 6 | Sint-Truidense | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| 7 | SC Freiburg | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 3 |
| 8 | FC Lugano | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 3 |
| 9 | AS Monaco | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| 10 | SK Brann | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| 11 | Hajduk Split | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| 12 | Panathinaikos | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| 13 | KAA Gent | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 14 | FC Twente | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 15 | Getafe | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 16 | Kairat Almaty | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 17 | FC Midtjylland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | FC Nordsjælland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Egnatia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 20 | Heart of Midlothian | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 21 | Riga FC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 22 | CSU Craiova | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 23 | Jablonec | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 0 |
| 24 | Red Star Belgrade | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 0 |
| 25 | Ajax Amsterdam | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| 26 | Borac Banja Luka | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| 27 | Lincoln Red Imps | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| 28 | CSKA Sofia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| 29 | AGF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 30 | FC Thun | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 31 | KuPS Kuopio | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 0 |
| 32 | Pafos | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| 33 | Iberia 1999 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| 34 | Inter D'Escaldes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| 35 | Braga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
| 36 | Kauno Žalgiris | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 0 |
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