Van de Beek strikes to help Ajax earn crucial lead against Tottenham in Champions League semi-final
Donny van de Beek ensured Ajax emerged in pole position from the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Van de Beek scored the only goal of the game to give the Eredivisie league leaders a deserved lead with a quarter of an hour played, and it proved to be decisive on the night.
And things might have been almost fatal for the hosts when David Neres’ second-half effort rebounded off the face of the post.
The result means that the Dutch side hold a one-goal advantage and an important away goal going into the second leg in Amsterdam on May 8.
The match was the north London club’s first ever Champions League semi-final, following a shock 1-0 defeat at home to West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday- the first at their new stadium.
And it was Ajax who started brighter, controlling possession and creating chance after chance against a Tottenham side who were slow out of the blocks, and the home side were made to pay with just 15 minutes on the clock.
AS IT HAPPENED: Tottenham v Ajax
Hakim Ziyech played Van de Beek through on goal and from just five yards out, the 22-year-old took his time to pick out the corner of the net and give his side a deserved opener and become the third youngest Ajax scorer in a Champions League semi-final.
Ajax were dominant and the travelling supporters were creating all the noise inside the stadium. Van de Beek almost had a second 10 minutes later.
The midfielder played a one two and had the option to square the ball to David Neres, but he decided to go for goal instead, with Lloris forced into a good save at his near post.
Tottenham’s starting 11 contained four former Ajax players and it was one of them who almost levelled for the hosts when Toby Alderweireld’s looping header just evaded André Onana’s goal.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men’s energy and work rate improved at the start of the second half and Dele Alli was unlucky not to find the back of the net with a half volley which was well saved by Onana.
Spurs pressed for an equalising goal but failed to create a clear-cut chance as their final ball let them down time and time again. In reality they never looked like finding a leveller.
Brazilian striker Neres almost made things worse for Tottenham, the 22-year-old was well placed inside the penalty area but was denied by the foot of the post.
At 19 years and 261 days, Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt was the youngest ever captain in a UCL semi-final and the captain commanded a solid back line that Tottenham couldn’t breach, as the first leg finished 1-0 to Erik ten Hag’s team.
Ajax claimed the one goal advantage and the all important away goal going into the second leg on the 8th May at the Johan Cruijff ArenA.
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