Ajax completed qualification for the UEFA Conference League on Thursday with an entertaining 5-3 win over Swiss side FC Sion. The Amsterdammers had already won the first leg 4-2 and finished the job in the Johan Cruijff ArenA thanks to goals from Youri Baas, Davy Klaassen, Oliver Edvardsen and two goals from Tolu Arokodare.

The swashbuckling Ajax performance may have already been on the cards prior to the game, when kick-off was delayed as the traditional keepy-up session by a boy in the Ajax youth academy had to be halted as the boy had already held the ball up 3,000 times and the game was scheduled to start.

Ajax took the lead after just 30 seconds. A corner from Steven Berghuis found center back Youri Baas completely unmarked. His first header was saved by Sion keeper Anthony Racioppi, but the rebound fell right back to Baas, and he smashed it home.

It was the joint fastest goal that Ajax have scored in European competition this century, tied with Andy van der Meijde’s goal against AS Roma in 2003.

Michel’s side kept pushing for goals, with Racioppi preventing Berghuis and Abdellah Ouazane from finding the net. Although Ajax keeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen was also forced into a fine save before Sion leveled the game after 17 minutes played. A cross was deflected to the far post where Winsley Boteli got ahead of Youri Regeer to volley it into the net.

Boteli got his second in the 36th minute to put Sion ahead. A cross from Franck Surdez was straight at Ter Stegen, but the German dropped the ball, and Boteli showed his scoring prowess again by reacting the quickest before grabbing the ball and running back to the center circle for a quick kick-off.

But Sion’s hope was quickly ended as Ajax leveled the game two minutes later. Lucas Rosa found the team captain Davy Klaassen, whose finish was unstoppable for Racioppi.

Ajax went into halftime with the lead as Tolu Arokodare scored in the final minutes before halftime. The Nigerian striker fluffed his first shot, which fortunately landed right in front of him, and he made no mistake with the second effort, hammering it high into the roof of the net.

He almost scored a significantly more impressive goal at the start of the second half. A back-heel from Julian Brandt was then played on by Klaassen to Arokodare and his curled effort spun beautifully towards goal but came back off the post.

But the loanee from Wolves did not have to wait long for his second goal. Again it was fantastic play from Michel’s side, with Brandt and Ouazane exchanging backheels before the young winger played a low cross into the box for Arokodare to knock home.

Another beautiful team goal from Ajax led to the 5-1 in the 55th minute. Quick play led to left-back Caio Henrique breaking the Sion high line, and the Brazilian kept his head up to play the ball across to Oliver Edvardsen for a tap-in.

Ajax brought on their 20 million euro summer signing Marcos Leonardo, but it was not the Brazilians night. Leonardo missed several chances, including two efforts from point-blank range.

Sion got another goal back late on, with Boteli completing his hat trick with a beautiful shot with his left foot into the far corner.

Ajax will not play their first game in the Conference League until October, but the Amsterdammers will find out their opponents tomorrow during the draw in Monaco.