Schalke were eliminated from the Europa League in dramatic fashion by Ajax after extra time in Gelsenkirchen. The 3-2 victory for Marcus Weinzierl’s team was not enough given the 2-0 deficit from the first leg and it was the Dutch team who advanced to the final four. Leon Goretzka and Guido Burgstaller goals were enough to earn Schalke extra time, which they went into a man up after Joel Veltman was dismissed for the visitors.
Daniel Caligiuri’s header looked to have completed a miraculous comeback for the Royal Blues, but with everyone expecting a fourth goal for the home side it was Ajax who struck the crucial final blows. Nick Viergever broke Schalke hearts with 10 minutes of extra time remaining before Amin Younes put the nail in Schalke’s coffin with the final kick of the game.
Ajax join Manchester United, who beat Anderlecht 3-2 on aggregate, Lyon, who beat Besiktas 6-5 on penalties and Celta Vigo, who beat Genk 4-3 over two legs, in the semifinals.
Schalke were eliminated from the Europa League in dramatic fashion by Ajax after extra time in Gelsenkirchen. The 3-2 victory for Marcus Weinzierl’s team was not enough given the 2-0 deficit from the first leg and it was the Dutch team who advanced to the final four. Leon Goretzka and Guido Burgstaller goals were enough to earn Schalke extra time, which they went into a man up after Joel Veltman was dismissed for the visitors.
Daniel Caligiuri’s header looked to have completed a miraculous comeback for the Royal Blues, but with everyone expecting a fourth goal for the home side it was Ajax who struck the crucial final blows. Nick Viergever broke Schalke hearts with 10 minutes of extra time remaining before Amin Younes put the nail in Schalke’s coffin with the final kick of the game.
Ajax join Manchester United, who beat Anderlecht 3-2 on aggregate, Lyon, who beat Besiktas 6-5 on penalties and Celta Vigo, who beat Genk 4-3 over two legs, in the semifinals.
