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Union Berlin secured passage into the Europa League round of 16 with a comfortable win over Ajax
Union Berlin are through to the Europa League round of 16 after comfortably beating Ajax 3-1 in the second leg of the playoff tie.
Ajax came into the second leg in Germany with high hopes as the first game in Amsterdam a week ago ended goalless, leaving all to play for tonight.
Nigerian defender Calvin Bassey started and played the full game but was unable to prevent his team's exit from the tournament he had hoped to win.
Union Berlin 3-1 Ajax
The home side started on the front foot and got the first meaningful moment of the game in the 18th minute when Calvin Bassey was adjudged to have handled the ball.
The pitchside monitor was required and a penalty was awarded which Robin Knoche stepped up to convert in the 20th minute, sending the home support into a frenzy.
Things went from bad to worse for Ajax who had a goal ruled out for offside and shortly after conceded a second as goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli fumbled what should have been an easy save from Josip Juranovic's tame effort on the stroke of halftime.
Ajax began the second half with renewed determination to salvage the game and they had hope again when Mohammed Kudus flicked home delicately just two minutes after the interval.
However, that hope was swiftly extinguished by Union Berlin as Danilo Doekhi powered home Josip Juranovic's cross to make it 3-1 in the 50th minute.
Calvin Bassey's poor outing
Nigerian defender Calvin Bassey started and played the whole game as a left centre-back but did not have the best of outings as he was on the losing side.
The 24-year-old gave away a penalty which led to Union Berlin's first goal and had some jittery moments in the game that punctuated a forgettable night.
Bassey touched the ball 113 times but did not manage a single clearance or block and also attempted one cross which he failed to complete.
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