[AMERICANS ABROAD] The bid of Michael Bradley‘s Heerenveen to reach next year’s Champions League third qualifying round suffered a blow when it fell at home to Ajax, 2-1, on Thursday in the first leg of their semifinal series.
Defender John Heitinga broke a 1-1 tie with the winning goal for Ajax in the 76th minute.
Uruguayan Luis Suarez gave Ajax the lead in the 61st minute, and Gerald Sibon equalized for Heerenveen nine minutes later.
Bradley, who has scored a team-leading 15 goals this season, went the full 90 against Ajax.
The second leg is in Amsterdam on Monday.
FC Twente beat NAC Breda 3-0 on Tuesday in the first leg of the other semifinal series.
The winners meet in the playoffs finals to decide the team that joins champion PSV in next year’s Champions League.