ECL: Arokodare Plays 90 Minutes As Hajduk Split Edge Ajax
Retold by Oddsrama · 15 October 2026
Super Eagles forward Tolu Arokodare played the full match as Ajax stumbled in their UEFA Conference League group stage debut, going down 2-1 to Hajduk Split in Croatia on Thursday. The Dutchmen dominated possession with 57% of the ball but found the hosts' defense impossible to crack. Arokodare remained a persistent focal point of Ajax's attacking play, managing three shots despite the visitors' struggle to create clear-cut opportunities.
Hajduk took the lead in the 37th minute when Marin Šotiček dispossessed Davy Klaassen in midfield and found Abdoulie Sanyang, who finished clinically past the keeper. Ajax struck back quickly after the restart as Klaassen redeemed himself, converting a low cross from Thilo Kehrer to level the contest. The moment of parity proved fleeting—within two minutes, Michele Šego capitalized on a loose backpass and laid the ball off to Šotiček, who tucked away the winner.
Arokodare pushed hard late on to rescue a point for Ajax, driving forward repeatedly as the European heavyweights pressed for an equalizer, but Hajduk held their nerve. The victory marks a landmark moment for the Croatian outfit, their first win in the group stage of a major European competition in over 16 years. For Ajax's betting backers, this was a costly slip—the Dutch giants' possession and pedigree counted for little against a well-organized defense that seized their chances ruthlessly. Arokodare's workrate and involvement suggest he remains a key weapon for Ajax's hopes of bouncing back.
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