Ajax are into the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 1997 Ajax ‘s arresting Champions League run continued as adolescent captain Matthijs de Ligt ‘s goal eliminated Juventus and secured their place in the semi-finals. Cristiano Ronaldo, a five-time achiever of the tournament, headed the hosts in front from a first-half corner.
But Ajax battled level as Donny van de Beek controlled Hakim Ziyech ‘s photograph and slotted past Wojciech Szczesny. Ziyech went close after the break before De Ligt, up from the back, scored a decisive, mighty header. The away-goals rule left Juventus needing two in the remaining 23 minutes, but it could have been even more comfortable for the visitors in the close stages with David Neres shooting wide and Ziyech flagged offside after whipping a smart shot into the top corner. Ronaldo, who picked up a late yellow card for a defeated lunge at Joel Veltman, stalked off the cant at the final whistle, having been knocked out of the rival for the first clock since Juventus beat his previous club Real Madrid in May 2015. meanwhile, as they did after their sensational away win over real Madrid in the former beat, Ajax ‘s youthful side bounced in front of their raucous set of supporters and home fans streamed out the exits. Ajax will face the winner of Manchester City and Tottenham ‘s quarter-final, which Spurs lead 1-0 before Wednesday ‘s moment branch at Etihad Stadium .
Back to big time
Ajax celebrated long and loud at the final whistle victory marks Ajax ‘s return to the last four of Europe ‘s premier competition for the beginning time since a team containing Daley Blind ‘s don Danny, Marc Overmars and Ronald de Boer were beaten in the 1997 semi-finals – by Juventus. Without an automatic group-stage place for the Eredivisie, the stream side started their Champions League campaign as 250-1 outsiders in July ‘s qualifying rounds. however, their attack exuberance and level belief in their ability to match the continent ‘s best was summed up by De Ligt. The 19-year-old master was found wanting for Ronaldo ‘s undoer, unable to track the Portuguese ‘s ply through a pack penalty area and leaving him free for the 98th headed goal of his career .
Ajax’s social media team made light of the rumours of bids for their leading players in the wake of their win. Marc Overmars, a member of the club’s 1995 Champions League winning side, is the current director of fooball. however, after regaining his defensive composure, De Ligt completed his redemption from Ajax ‘s own set-piece, planting a down heading past a root Szczesny. This season will be this Ajax side ‘s only blast at regaining the trophy they final won in 1995. Manager Erik ten-spot Hag has admitted De Ligt will leave at the end of the temper, while team-mate Frenkie de Jong, 21, has already agreed a summer move to Barcelona. Dangerous wide attacker David Neres, interim, has been linked with a move to the Premier League .
End of an era
Ronaldo has scored 126 goals in the Champions League, with 65 of those coming in the knockout stages – both the most of any player in competition history. Ronaldo, recruited at a cost of £99.2m in the summer, was intended to provide the concluding piece of Champions League-winning know-how for a Juventus side that had lost two finals in the previous four seasons. A second-leg hat-trick dragged his side to victory over Atletico Madrid in the last 16, but his dreams of matching former Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf by lifting the trophy with a third different club were wrecked by Ajax ‘s corporate magnificence. alternatively, he will be absent from the last four for the first prison term since 2010. Funds allowing, director Massimiliano Allegri may contemplate more additions to his squad this summer to try to add continental achiever to their domestic laterality .
Man of the match – Hakim Ziyech
Morocco international Ziyech was a constant bundle of energy down the right with four key passes and seven crosses – more than any other Ajax player
Match stats
- Ajax have qualified for the semi-finals of the european Cup/Champions League for the ninth time in their history, and the first since the 1996-97 season .
- Ajax are the beginning team from outside the traditional top five european leagues to reach the Champions League semi-final since 2004-05, when fellow Dutch side PSV Eindhoven did so .
- Juventus have lost two home games in a single european Cup/Champions League campaign for the first base clock in their history ( 1-2 five both Manchester United and Ajax ) .
- Ajax have scored 155 goals this season across all competitions, their joint-most in a single season in club history ( besides 155 in 2009-10 ) .
- This was Ajax ‘s third straight away acquire in the Champions League ; their longest such streak since between November 1995 and March 1997 ( seven wins ) .
- Juventus ‘ Cristiano Ronaldo has netted nine goals against Ajax in the Champions League – only against his stream club Juventus ( 10 ) has he scored more against a individual opponent in the contest .
- Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt is the youngest dutch player to score in a Champions League hard match ( 19 years 246 days ) since Nordin Wooter in April 1996 for Ajax versus Panathinaikos ( 19 years 237 days ) .
- Line-ups
- Match Stats
- Live Text
Line-ups
Juventus
formation 4-4-2
1
Szczesny
2
De Sciglio
19
Bonucci
24
Rugani
12
Lobo Silva
33
Bernardeschi
23
Can
5
Pjanic
14
Matuidi
10
Dybala
7
Cristiano Ronaldo
- 1
Szczesny
- 2
De Sciglio
Substituted for
Cancelo
at
64′
minutes
- 19
Bonucci
- 24
Rugani
- 12
Lobo Silva
- 33
Bernardeschi
Substituted for
Bentancur
at
80′
minutes
- 23
Can
Booked at 69mins
- 5
Pjanic
- 14
Matuidi
- 10
Dybala
Substituted for
Kean
at
45′
minutes
- 7
Cristiano Ronaldo
Booked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 6
Khedira
- 15
Barzagli
- 18
Kean
- 20
Cancelo
- 21
Pinsoglio
- 30
Bentancur
- 37
Spinazzola
Ajax
formation 4-2-3-1
24
Onana
3
Veltman
4
de Ligt
17
Blind
12
Mazraoui
20
Schöne
21
Read more: EFL Trophy – Wikipedia
de Jong
22
Ziyech
6
van de Beek
7
Neres
10
Tadic
- 24
Onana
- 3
Veltman
- 4
de Ligt
- 17
Blind
- 12
Mazraoui
Substituted for
Sinkgraven
at
11′
minutes
Substituted for
Magallán
at
82′
minutes
- 20
Schöne
- 21
de Jong
- 22
Ziyech
Substituted for
Huntelaar
at
88′
minutes
- 6
van de Beek
- 7
Neres
- 10
Tadic
Substitutes
- 8
Sinkgraven
- 9
Huntelaar
- 16
Magallán
- 25
Dolberg
- 28
Semedo Varela
- 30
de Wit
- 40
Ekkelenkamp
- Referee:
- Clément Turpin
- Attendance:
- 41,445
Match Stats
Live Text
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Post update
Match ends, Juventus 1, Ajax 2 .
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Full Time
second Half ends, Juventus 1, Ajax 2 .
-
Booking
Cristiano Ronaldo ( Juventus ) is shown the yellow calling card for a regretful foul .
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Post update
Foul by Cristiano Ronaldo ( Juventus ) .
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Post update
Joël Veltman ( Ajax ) wins a free complain on the mighty wing .
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Post update
Foul by Leonardo Bonucci ( Juventus ) .
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Post update
Lasse Schöne ( Ajax ) wins a free kick in the defensive half .
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Post update
Foul by João Cancelo ( Juventus ) .
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Post update
Dusan Tadic ( Ajax ) wins a free kick in the defensive half .
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Post update
Foul by Lasse Schöne ( Ajax ) .
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Post update
Cristiano Ronaldo ( Juventus ) wins a exempt kick in the defensive half .
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Substitution
substitution, Ajax. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar replaces Hakim Ziyech .
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Post update
Dusan Tadic ( Ajax ) wins a spare kick in the defensive half .
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Post update
Foul by Daniele Rugani ( Juventus ) .
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Post update
Hand testis by Alex Sandro ( Juventus ) .
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Post update
Donny van de Beek ( Ajax ) wins a rid kick in the defensive half .
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Post update
Foul by Miralem Pjanic ( Juventus ) .
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Post update
try missed. Lasse Schöne ( Ajax ) right footed shoot from the center of the box misses to the right .
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Substitution
substitution, Ajax. Lisandro Magallán replaces Daley Sinkgraven .
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Post update
Offside, Juventus. Emre Can tries a through ball, but Cristiano Ronaldo is caught offside .
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