Ajax narrowly escaped defeat in their encounter with FK Bodø/Glimt in the first leg of their Conference League tie on Thursday when Steven Berghuis equalised for the Amsterdammers in the 97th minute.

Ajax came back from a 2-0 deficit in injury time. In the 91st minute, substitute Branco van den Boomen, who was back after almost 100 days of injury, scored from the penalty spot and six minutes later, Berghuis turned the deficit into a 2-2 draw.

Ajax are still without a win in their last seven UEFA competition knockout phase matches.

The return leg in the intermediate round is on 22 February in Norway. The winner will go through to the round of 16 of the third-tier European competition.

Earlier in the evening Feyenoord keep their sights on qualifying for the Europa League round of 16 with a 1-1 draw against AS Roma. The return leg is on 22 February in Rome.

Coach Arne Slot was without several key players, including Gernot Trauner (hamstring injury) and midfielder Quinten Timber, who is recovering from concussion.

Slot said after the match he considered the result to be “the right one”. “And I am pleased about the fact that when you have so many other lads on the pitch… that you still see the Feyenoord football structure,” he said.

PSV Eindhoven, the other Dutch club still in Europe, will meet Dortmund in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League next Wednesday.