Ajax Routs Aktobe as the Europa Cup Field Begins to Separate

Ajax left almost nothing for the return leg, hammering Aktobe 8-0 behind an Ella Touon hat trick and two goals from Katja Snoeijs. Sherida Spitse, Daniëlle Noordermeer and Jade van Hensbergen completed the scoring as Ajax produced the largest victory of the first-leg slate and effectively turned next week’s trip to Kazakhstan into a formality.

Czarni Sosnowiec delivered an even more eye-catching result away from home. Klaudia Miłek scored four times in a 6-2 demolition of Breiðablik, last season’s Europa Cup quarterfinalist, giving the Polish side a four-goal cushion to bring home. Wolfsburg was just as ruthless against Sturm Graz. Ella Peddemors opened the scoring directly from a free kick and created Lara Prašnikar’s goal three minutes later before Smilla Vallotto and Svenja Huth made it 4-0 by halftime. Sturm pulled one back after the break, but Katharina Piljić’s first Wolfsburg goal and a late Lena Lattwein finish completed a 6-1 win.