Ajax Women secured a 2-0 win over Brøndby in the UEFA Women's Champions League 2nd Qualifying Round semi-final on 5 August 2026. The Dutch side controlled the encounter from the opening exchanges and never looked back. It was a straightforward evening for the hosts, who had been in good form ahead of the tie.
K. Snoeijs opened the scoring in the 12th minute, and M. van Koppen doubled the lead by then, striking in the 20th. That second goal was the one I remember most — it settled the contest before Brøndby could find any foothold. To be fair, the Danish side had chances, but they lacked the cutting edge when it mattered.
Brøndby made a double change at the break, bringing on S. Kees and A. Thestrup in the 46th minute. Ajax responded with their own substitutions later: A. Rodgers and K. Thomas came on around 70 minutes, followed by E. Van Dijk in the 80th and M. Brenn at 82. Brøndby's discipline slipped — E. Halldorsdottir received a yellow card in the 62nd minute, while E. Nejmann and E. Pelkowski were booked together in the 82nd.
Ajax dominated the numbers. They registered 111 attacks to Brøndby's 94 and completed 63 per cent of their shots on target, compared with the visitors' 25 per cent. Both sides held 50 per cent possession, but Ajax's five shots on target against Brøndby's two told the real story. The hosts had five corners, the visitors seven, but it was quality not quantity that decided matters.
Ajax arrived with momentum, having won their last two league matches 3-1 against Herenveen and AZ. They had also kept a clean sheet against Excelsior Women in April. Brøndby's recent run was less convincing — draws with Nordsjælland and Midtjylland Women, though they had beaten AGF 3-0 earlier.
The result means Ajax Women progress through the 2nd Qualifying Round. A two-goal margin was comfortable, and the clean sheet reinforced their defensive solidity. Brøndby's campaign ends here, with three yellow cards perhaps a sign of the frustration that built as the game slipped away from them.