Ajax 4
Wexford Youths 1
Dave Donnelly reports from Seaview
RIANNA JARRETT WILL always have a moment in Wexford Youths history after she gave the Women’s National League champions a famous lead against Ajax this afternoon.
The lead lasted just two minutes as the fully-professional Dutch champions asserted their dominance thereafter, but for a brief moment it looked the most unlikely upset was on the cards.
Tom Elmes’ side deserved to be in front, having gone toe-to-toe with a team packed with internationals for 45 minutes, but fitness and full-time football told in the end.
Goals from Kay-Lee de Sanders, Ellen Jansen, Lois Oudermast and Liza van der Most put the Amsterdam club in pole position to take the one qualification spot for the knockouts.
An even first half saw the nominal home side, Ajax, dominate the ball but create little of note, with a tame effort from van der Most the only clear opportunity they created.
Wexford won a free-kick 30 yards out within seconds of the kick-off and Emma Hansberry’s delivery was pinpoint — allowing Jarrett to arrow a header into the corner of the net.
Rianna Jarrett on target for @YouthsWomen in this afternoons defeat to Ajax In Belfast. pic.twitter.com/F664wPuBw6
— Wexford Youths Women (@YouthsWomen) August 7, 2018
They conceded in avoidable circumstances two minutes later as a Marthe Munsterman corner found de Sanders unmarked, and her header trickled into the corner as the Wexford defence stood by.
Four minutes later, the Dutch hit the front as a lovely diagonal cross from the game’s outstanding player, Soraya Verhoeve, found Ellen Jansen and she glanced a header into the corner.
Verhoeve picked out Lois Oudermost for the third and the captain took advantage of tiring bodies to roll the ball past Dollard.
Verhoeve cracked the crossbar with a stunning volley before van der Most added a fourth with a cross that fortuitously sailed into the top corner.
Wexford play Thor/KA on Friday before finishing their campaign against Linfield on Monday, and will have to hope Ajax drop three points along the way.
AJAX: Marieke Ubachs; Liza van der Most, Kay-Lee de Sanders, Line Roddik, Kika von Es; Lois Oudemast (Iina Salmi 70), Kelly Zeeman, Marthe Munsterman; Soraya Verhoeve (Kirsten van der Westeringh 82), Vanity Lewerissa (Eshly Bakker 66), Ellen Jansen.
WEXFORD YOUTHS: Ciamh Dollard; Nicola Sinnott, Orlaith Conlon, Lauren Dwyer, Doireann Fahey; Edel Kennedy, Kylie Murphy (Orla Casey 70), Emma Hansberry; Aisling Frawley (McKenna Davidson 81), Katrina Parrock (Becky Conroy 60), Rianna Jarrett.
Referee: Maria Marotta (Italy).
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