Ajax stunned Juventus to reach the Champions League semi-finals with a 2-1 comeback win in Turin.
Cristiano Ronaldo gave Juventus the lead after 28 minutes with a record 126th goal in the competition, his ninth in just seven meetings with Ajax.
4
Ajax are the first Dutch side to reach the Champions League last four since 2005
But goals from Donny Van De Beek and Matthijs De Ligt gave Ajax a thoroughly deserved 3-2 aggregate success.
Ajax will meet Manchester City or Tottenham in their first Champions League semi-final for 22 years and many will consider them underdogs again.
But after eliminating Real Madrid, champions for the previous three seasons, and now Juventus, Erik Ten Hag’s exciting young side should not be underestimated.
In what was to prove a hugely entertaining contest, both sides were slow to start.
4
Van De Beek tucks home the equaliser
Emre Can almost embarrassed Andre Onana when he charged down the Ajax goalkeeper’s kick and the ball flew wide of a gaping goal.
Ajax lost injured full-back Noussair Mazraoui inside the opening 10 minutes but the visitors almost struck the first blow.
David Neres found space in a crowded penalty area and his deflected shot squirmed through to Van De Beek, who fired over the crossbar at full stretch.
Paulo Dybala saw his volley held by Onana in Juventus’ first meaningful attack, but the hosts were soon ahead through a familiar source.
4
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring at the Allianz Stadium
The unmarked Ronaldo met Miralem Pjanic’s corner with a trademark thunderous header as Ajax complained of a foul on Joel Veltman.
Clement Turpin went to the sidelines for a VAR check, but the French referee’s closer inspection showed that Veltman’s team-mate De Ligt had actually pushed him to the ground.
But Ajax were level within six minutes when Hakim Ziyech’s shot fell into Van De Beek’s path and the midfielder made the most of his good fortune with an assured finish into the bottom corner.
The second half was on a knife edge and Ajax were determined to send men forward in search of a goal that would leave Juventus needing two and a mountain to climb.
4
De Ligt is just 19 years old
Juventus heaved a huge sigh of relief when Neres broke through and Van De Beek set up Ziyech inside the penalty area.
Wojciech Szczesny thrust out a strong left arm just as the ball appeared to be going past him and Juventus survived.
Van De Beek was on the end of further breathtaking Ajax approach play, but again Szczesny was equal to the task and tipped the ball over the crossbar.
Juventus substitute Moise Kean fired wide after being slipped through by Ronaldo, but Ajax continued to call the tune and Pjanic stuck out a foot to deny Ziyech the simplest of tap-ins.
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
The pressure finally told after 67 minutes as De Ligt towered above Alex Sandro and Daniele Rugani to head Lasse Schone’s corner past a helpless Szczesny.
Ajax should have scored more in the closing stages as Neres scuffed Dusan Tadic’s pass wide and Ziyech saw his pile-driver disallowed for offside.
But Juventus produced few late scares, even if an unsuccessful penalty appeal went to VAR again, as Ajax became the first Dutch side to reach the last four of the Champions League since 2005.
Marcus Rashford: Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey suggests Reds could do with a player like Manchester United striker Written by: fpnews Posted on: April 5, 2019 Emile Heskey believes Liverpool will be looking to sign another striker in the summer.
Premier League transfer news: Mohamed Salah, Lorenzo Insigne
Manchester United legend Gary Neville has hit back at Louis van Gaal's comments about Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's football. Two days before Solskjaer was named permanent United boss, Van Gaal, who managed the club between 2014 and 2016, accused the Norwegian of 'parking the bus' like his predecessor Jose Mourinho.
Man Utd legend Gary Neville wants Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to
The Italian has divided opinion at Stamford Bridge all year, but the statistics make for pretty powerful reading considering the scrutiny he has faced. In fact, Sarri has won 39 matches in all competitions for Chelsea this season, with the only manager to hold more victories in his maiden campaign of the Blues was Jose Mourinho in the 2004/05
Only Jose Mourinho won more games in his first Chelsea season
Apr 27, 2019 · "Maybe I'm the only one in the country that knows that seventh position doesn't guarantee anything," said Nuno Espirito Santo. Wolves boss praises Jota, Jimenez, prefers not to focus
Nuno: Europe would not change Wolves' spending plan | Express
Tottenham news: Fans left disappointed by decision not to show first game at new stadium on TV by: 161385360554578 — Talk Sport 20 Mar Tottenham fans not able to get their hands on a ticket for the first game at their new stadium will also not be able to watch it on TV.
TWEETS: Tottenham Fans Rage At Sky For Ignoring Their Stadium
Van Dijk is Liverpool's first leader since Carragher, says Heskey
Racism is an epidemic which the football authorities have failed to eradicate up until now. Over the past few weeks, several stars including Raheem Sterling, Danny Rose, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Moise Kean suffered from the same. And now, one football player has decided to retire from the game altogether, after falling victim to the same.
Harris to quit over alleged racial abuse - newsoneplace.com
Chelsea confirm ruptured Achilles tendon for Ruben Loftus-Cheek We Ain't Got No History (Weblog) 20:16 16-May-19 Loftus-Cheek to undergo surgery on ruptured Achilles Evening Standard 20:01 16-May-19 Ruben Loftus-Cheek faces up to a year out after suffering Achilles injury Daily Mail 19:48 16-May-19
Mauricio Pochettino described the emotion and feeling of the opening of Tottenham's new stadium as "unbelievable". After no shortage of delays, Spurs finally opened the doors to their plush new £
The 10 things we learned from the first - football.london
Rio Ferdinand reveals why Man Utd and Liverpool want Matthijs De Ligt. Matthijs De Ligt impressed again against Tottenham - and Rio Ferdinand is a huge fan of the Ajax youngster
Barcelona Are 'On The Verge' Of Signing Ajax Captain Matthijs
Philippe Coutinho is weighing up whether to leave Barcelona this summer, just 18 months after sealing a dream move to the Nou Camp. The Brazil midfielder made a £145million move from Liverpool to
Barcelona triggered clause in £140m Coutinho deal - Gib
No comments:
Post a Comment