Gambian international winger Abdoulie Sanyang delivered an impressive performance as HNK Segesta stunned Dutch giants Ajax 2-1 in a thrilling UEFA Europa League encounter.
The 27-year-old attacker proved instrumental in Segesta’s memorable triumph, opening the scoring before helping spark the counterattack that produced the hosts’ winning goal in a fiercely contested encounter.
Sanyang broke the deadlock in the 37th minute, capitalising on a well-weighted pass from Marin Šotiček before driving into the penalty area and calmly slotting the ball past the Ajax goalkeeper.
His clinical finish sent the home supporters into celebration and gave Segesta a valuable advantage heading into the interval.
Ajax responded strongly after the restart and drew level in the 53rd minute through experienced midfielder Davy Klaassen, who finished from close range following an assist from Thilo Kehrer.
However, Segesta wasted little time restoring their lead. Just two minutes later, Sanyang helped initiate a swift counterattack that culminated in Šotiček finding the net in the 55th minute, with Michele Šego providing the assist.
The decisive strike proved crucial as Ajax pushed forward in search of another equaliser.
With the match extending to an extraordinary 18 minutes of added time, Segesta faced sustained late pressure from the visitors. Sanyang remained influential, combining his attacking threat with diligent defensive work to help his teammates protect their advantage.
Segesta ultimately held firm to secure a memorable 2-1 victory, with Sanyang’s goal and contribution to the winning move highlighting his importance to the team’s attacking play.
For the Gambian international, the performance represented another significant moment in his European career, showcasing his finishing ability, pace and tactical discipline against one of the continent’s most recognisable clubs.
