ajax and Roma had chances in the first half but it was a defensive error that prompted the opening goal, Davy Klaassen cutting out an underhit Amadou Diawara pass and advancing before finding Dušan Tadić and tapping in the Serbian’s unselfish return pass.
Tadić had the chance to double Ajax’s advantage when he was felled by Roger Ibañez, but Pau López stood tall to block his penalty and instead it was Roma who got back on terms, Lorenzo Pellegrini’s free-kick squirming beyond 21-year-old European debutant Kjell Scherpen in the Ajax goal.
Ibañez then supplied the late winner, smashing in on the volley from a corner to give Roma the edge in the tie.
Line-ups
Ajax: Scherpen; Rensch (Klaiber 79), Timber, Martínez, Tagliafico; Álvarez, Klaassen, Gravenberch; Antony (Idrissi 88), Tadić, Neres (Brobbey 64)
Roma: Pau López; Mancini, Cristante, Ibañez; Bruno Peres, Diawara, Veretout (Villar 77), Spinazzola (Calafiori 29); Pellegrini, Pedro (Péres 89); Džeko (Mayoral 77)
