Ajax lost out on the Champions League final due a 95th minute winner for Tottenham to win 2-3 and advance on away goals (3-3 on aggregate).

  • by Michael Statham
  • Follow Michael on Twitter @EredivisieMike

Ajax came into the second leg of this tie 1-0 up and started this game in fabulous fashion, as captain Matthijs De Ligt headed in a corner to send Amsterdam into raptures.

Spurs responded with a cross that rebounded off the post and with efforts from Heung Min Son and Christian Eriksen; but goalkeeper André Onana, who was careless with his distribution during the first half, was equal to the shots, holding comfortbaly each time.

Ajax doubled their lead just before half-time. Dusan Tadic had already threatened down the left with a shot across the face of goal; this time, as he ran down the wing, he squared the ball for Hakim Ziyech, who expertly swept into the corner.

Half-time brought a change for Tottenham, as Fernando Llorente gave the away side more of an aerial threat.

Lucas Moura began the unlikely comeback for Tottenham. A counter-attack began from an Ajax set-piece that broke down; Moura was allowed to run through into the box and make it 2-1. Shortly after, a scramble in the Ajax penalty-area lead to a second Moura goal.

At 2-2, Amsterdam became nervous. The game went from end-to-end in spectacular fashion – a European classic that will be looked back upon for many years to come.

With the game reaching its climax, the excellent Ziyech swept a shot agonisingly wide, before then striking the base of the post from yet another Tadic left-wing cut-back.

Unfortunately, and painfully, Ajax were made to rue their missed chances. Spurs piled on the pressure late into the game. Despite Erik Ten Hag’s defensive substitutions, Tottenham found too much room on the ball around the box. The game ended in the 95th minute, when Moura collected the ball 16-yards-out and buried his hat-trick, and with it Ajax’s hopes of a Champions League final versus Liverpool.

Ajax players lay on the pitch in ruins: tired, frustrated and upset. Fans cried in disbelief of the dramatic Spurs comeback whilst tears of delight were shared by the Tottenham players, staff and supporters.




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Michael Statham (865 Posts)

Writer/interviewer/YouTuber for Football-Oranje. Massive Dutch football fan from the UK. Follow me @EredivisieMike & subscribe to Football-Oranje on YouTube.