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Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare featured for the full 90 minutes as Ajax suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat against Hajduk Split in their UEFA Conference League opener at Stadion Poljud on Thursday.
Despite controlling 57% of possession, the Dutch giants struggled to break down a resilient and disciplined Hajduk defense, with Arokodare serving as a constant physical threat up front and registering three shots over the course of the match.
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Hajduk struck first in the 37th minute when Marin Šotiček dispossessed Davy Klaassen in midfield and laid off a precise pass to Abdoulie Sanyang, who fired a low right-footed shot past the keeper.
Ajax found an equalizer shortly after the interval as Davy Klaassen made amends for his earlier error, rifling a low cross from Thilo Kehrer into the roof of the net.
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However, their parity lasted barely two minutes as Michele Šego pounced on a loose backpass and squared it to Marin Šotiček, who calmly finished past the recovering defense to restore the hosts’ lead.
Arokodare led a late charge for an equalizer, driving the Ajax attack, but the Croatian league leaders held firm to claim a famous victory, their first in the main stage of a major European competition in over 16 years.
