AJAX’S European dreams are still alive after stunning Juventus in their own back yard. The Dutch giants came from behind in Turin to book their first Champions League semi-final for 22 years at the expense of Cristiano Ronaldo and his Old Lady teammates. Ajax last lifted the famous old trophy back in 1995 thanks to […]
AJAX’S European dreams are still alive after stunning Juventus in their own back yard.
The Dutch giants came from behind in Turin to book their first Champions League semi-final for 22 years at the expense of Cristiano Ronaldo and his Old Lady teammates.
Ajax last lifted the famous old trophy back in 1995 thanks to a lone George Weah strike in Vienna against Italian heavyweights AC Milan.
And now the four-time Euro champs are a game away from reliving the glory days – England’s big-dog duo of Manchester City or Tottenham stand in their way.
Ronaldo, a veteran of the competition with five winners’ medals, thought he had put Juve within touching distance of the last four with his towering 27th minute header.
But fresh off their thumping of holders Real Madrid in the Last 16, this young Aajx side stepped up when it mattered as Donny van de Beek and Matthijs de Ligt struck either side of half time.
Erik ten Hag’s side were eyeing a Champions League semi spot for the first time since 1997 – a team that included such names as Edwin Van der Sar, Frank de Boer, Marc Overmars and Patrick Kluivert.
But in the opposition stood a living legend still in the form of his life in Cristiano Ronaldo – and it was he who put an early dagger in those romantic Dutch dreams.
Very similar to his opener in the first leg, Ronnie peeled off his marker from a Miralem Pjanic corner to puncture Onana’s netting with his head.
The stats are now becoming ludicrous. His 126th in Europe. His ninth strike in seven against Ajax. And in total, his 599th club goal in 799 appearances.
He really is the big-boy bully when it comes to European football.
The insanity and joy of it all was tainted slightly by a VAR check, only for the footage to confirm Joel Veltman was in fact pushed over by his own skipper De Ligt in the build-up.
But Ajax were unsettled, joined the party six minutes later thanks to an ice-cool finish from Donny van de Beek.
Van de Beek can count himself slightly lucky as the ball landed at his feet 10 yards out from Hakim Ziyech’s fluffed shot – but the way he then slid it around Wojciech Szczesny was anything but.
VAR once more was checked with no change in outcome as Ajax continued to hold their own until the break – much to the delight of the travelling 2,000 Dutchmen.
Confidence grew massively from the youthful visitors, their silky one-touch passing forcing Juve to chase shadows as Szczesny made two world class saves from Ziyech and Van de Beek.
Ajax’s kids looked to have flicked a switch, dominating Juve’s wily winners – and then in the 67th minute their dreams took a step closer to becoming a reality.
Lasse Schone’s outswinging corner to the back post was met with the thunderous head of De Ligt – Szczesny this time left scrambling.
An offside call denied Ziyech after his late screamer – but glory remains on the cards for a forgotten giant of this competition.
