Champions League Classics #2: Ajax 2-3 Tottenham

 UCL CLASSICS: AJAX 2-3 TOTTENHAM


Picture Above: Tottenham forward, Lucas Moura celebrating the winning goal to take Tottenham to the Champions League final. 

8th May 2019
Johan Cruijff ArenA, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Pre Match:

These two teams played in the second leg of the 2018-19 Champions League Semi Finals. Both sides were aiming to be the underdog side in the 2019 Champions League final. The winner of this match would play Liverpool in the final in the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano. Ajax had previously taken back a slim 1-0 lead from London as they narrowly defeated Spurs thanks to a goal from youngster, Donny van de Beek. It was all to play for in Amsterdam, but as we've seen before, we know that anything in the Champions League is possible.

Match:

Ajax were the better side, throughout the start of the game and even managed to register a goal within the first 5 minutes. The goal came from young defender and captain, Matthijs de Ligt after he tucked away a thumping header that flew into the back of Hugo Lloris's net to give Ajax a 2-0 lead on aggregate. Tottenham started to attack more prominently and came close to scoring a few times. However, all that would soon be cancelled as Ajax forward, Hakim Ziyech who finised off an absolute belter which Lloris had no chance of saving. That goal put Ajax in a comfortable position as they would look as though they would make the Champions League final. The first half ended with Ajax taking a 3-0 lead on aggregate and they were the favourites to go through. However, all hope wasn't lost for Tottenham just yet. Within the first ten minites of the second half, Tottenham looked like a much better team as their star forward, Lucas Moura managed to tuck a shot away past Ajax goalkeeper, Andre Onana. Four minutes later, Moura equalized for Spurs after a scramble in the Ajax penalty area. From that moment on, it was anyone's game. Ajax attacked and Tottenham attacked, but neither find could find the goal to settle the tie. With time running out, it looked as though the Dutch giants would make the Champions League final for the first time in 23 years. However, with virtually the last kick of the game, Lucas Moura unleashed a killer shot that went blazing past Onana's net to make it 3-2 to the London club. It was regarded as the greatest moment in Tottenham Hotspur history, as Lucas Moura's hat-trick was enough to win the tie for Spurs on away goals. This win in Amsterdam would mean that Spurs would qualify for the Champions League final for the first time in their history. This win meant that Tottenham have set up the second all English Champions League final (the first being in 2008, contested between Manchester United and Chelsea). However, despite all their heroics, they still lost the final against Liverpool, which was a bad way to wrap up a magical tournament for Mauricio Pochettino's men.

Match Round Up:
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham

Goals (Ajax):        Goals (Tottenham):
M. de Ligt 5'          L. Moura 55', 59', 90+6'
H. Ziyech 35'

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