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A Daniel Kelly consolation goal at the Johan Cruyff Arena means Shelbourne will face Ajax in next week's UEFA Conference League third qualifying round, second leg with something to play for after the Dubliners came away with a respectable result from Amsterdam. An early goal from Belgian wonderkid Mika Godts along with follow ups courtesy of Owen Wijndal and Kasper Dolberg left the Premier Division side fearing the worst. But a string of fantastic stops from goalkeeper Ed Beach, including a penalty save from Godts in the second half, coupled with Kelly's goal, will give John Russell's side something to travel back home with ahead of next Thursday's second leg at Tolka Park. Facing a side littered with international experience, Shels boss Russell made two changes from the team who were beaten at the RSC on Sunday, opting against playing a recognised striker. Attackers Ali Coote and Rodrigo Freitas dropped to the bench in place of winger Sean Moore and full back James Norris. As expected, Ajax themselves boasted plenty of talent. Former Bayern Munich and Manchester United defender Daley Blind lined up alongside captain Davy Klassen, a former Everton and Inter Milan defender. While 56-time capped Danish striker Dolberg joined Steven Berghuis in attack, a player who has played almost 50 times for the Netherlands. Barcelona loanee Marc Andre-ter Stegen and Julian Brandt, who recently signed from Borussia Dortmund, made the bench. No stranger himself to European upsets, Russell was part of the Sligo Rovers squad who shocked Rosenborg in a Europa League game in Trondheim in 2014. Eight years later, he guided the Bit O'Red past Motherwell in the Conference League, that time as manager. However, what would have to have been Irish football's most famous giant-killing episode looked distant even early on as expectedly, the Dutch side easily controlled proceedings from the off. The game was just six minutes old when the four time European Cup winners took the lead. Referee Atilia Karaoglan allowed play to go on after Shels' Milan Mbeng had over-reached in his efforts to tip the ball away from Belgian striker Godts inside the Dubliners' penalty area. VAR asked the official to review the incident, with Karaoglan ruling that the former Cork City wing back hadn't touched the ball but had instead upended Godts who sent Beach the wrong way from the resulting spot kick. The hosts continued to toy with the League of Ireland side for lengthy periods although Shels did frustrate their more illustrious opponents. Berghuis fired over thirteen minutes in as the Eredivisie outfit reverted to an effort from range, during an early period in which they played some really smart one-touch football in tight areas. A superb last ditch challenge from Sam Bone on 21 minutes denied Wijndal after the 26-year-old beat the attempted Shels offside trap. But the full back was to have his moment 60 seconds later when he scored Ajax's second. Wijndal's first touch didn't need to be anywhere near perfect as he was left in plenty of space in front of Beach, before lashing his shot past the former Derry goalkeeper having been picked out by a Berghuis cross. Beach did keep the Drumcondra men in this game with two decent stops, the first from Godts and the second from a Dolberg shot on the turn. Both Dolberg and Wijndal had opportunities before the break, while Godts struck a bending set piece into Beach's side netting in the opening exchanges of the second period. The Amsterdam giants had their third on 50 when Godts anticipated the path of Berghuis' swerving cross, nipping in ahead of Paddy Barrett to finish past Beach at his front post. The Welsh stopper again came good for Shels when he denied Godts his brace, saving the Ajax striker's second penalty of the night on 57 after the Belgian's attempted cross came off Evan Caffrey's arm.. The now well tested Beach acrobatically pushed a powerful drive from Berghuis over his bar just beyond the hour as Shels held on. Caffrey then produced Shels' first chance of the night with twenty to go when he sprinted forward into the space left by an absent Ajax midfield. His venomous effort from 20 yards smothered by goalkeeper Maarten Paes. This signalled an improvement in Shels for the final twenty minutes and although both Godts and substitute Marcos Leonardo went close late on, the visitors gave themselves some hope for the second leg when they found the net with 17 minutes to go. Ajax didn't deal with Barrett's ball over the top from half way and after Paes had repelled Ali Coote's initial effort, he was unable to deal with Kelly's composed finish into the corner. Ajax: Maarten Paes; Anton Gaaei, Aaron Bouwman, Daley Blind, Owen Wijndal; Davy Klaassen (Marcos Leonardo 57), Oscar Gloukh (Jorthy Mokio 57), Youri Regeer; Steven Berghuis (Oliver Edvardsen 65), Mika Godts (Maher Carrizo 78); Kasper Dolberg (Julian Brandt 65). Shelbourne: Ed Beach; Sam Bone (James Rochoe 93), Paddy Barrett, Kameron Ledwidge, James Norris (Sean Gannon 93); Milan Mbeng, Kerr McInroy (Odhran Casey 80), Jack Henry-Francis (Ali Coote 80); Evan Caffrey, Sean Moore (Rodrigo Freitas 73); Daniel Kelly. Referee: Atilia Karaoglan (Turkey)