Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Ajax
A Champions League bid for Euro glory that few SBOBET pundits expected after the group stages.
Yet after producing Champions League 2019 highlights galore to get here, this meeting between two of these great football clubs was always going to generate excitement.
Spurs had triumphed over then Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund before seeing off English champions Manchester City in an epic.
Ajax had delivered in Madrid (against the reigning European champions) and Turin (against Italian champions Juventus) and were unbeaten on their travels in the UEFA Champions League this season.
A cracker was in prospect.
Highlights of the game
While Ajax enjoyed a complete break from competitive action last weekend, a lethargic-looking Spurs went down to a narrow defeat at home to West Ham.
Yet, in the words of boss Mauricio Pochettino, it was impossible to be tired for this one.
Pundits had a mixed take on what was to follow.
Some pointed to Spurs’ fine home record, with the London club winning won eight of their last ten UEFA Champions League home matches – including the last four.
Others suggested that with the injured Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min absent, Erik ten Hag’s men had a golden chance to take control.
“To Dare To Do” was the message that greeted the sides as they emerged onto the pitch. And given both had ended long waits to make it to this stage – the most recent of Ajax’s eight European Cup semi-finals came in 1997, and Spurs’ only appearance in the competition’s last four was 57 years ago – there was no time to waste.
Within 14 minutes, Ajax had a crucial away goal.
Donny van de Beek may not have been a household name at the start of this season, but he is certainly more known now and will be highly regarded for this finish.
Released by an incisive Hakim Ziyech ball, van de Beek raced clear and sold Hugo Lloris more than one dummy before calmly slotting the ball into the net.
With Brazilian David Neres also prominent, Ajax controlled the next quarter, and the home side at times resorted to desperate defending and conceded a series of corners.
If a glorious passing move had ended with a second goal 10 minutes later, I’d have feared for Spurs.
But after Joel Veltman, Dusan Tadic and van de Beek linked up, Lloris was quick to block when a ball to Neres would have resulted in Ajax doubling their advantage.
An accidental collision with team-mate Toby Alderweireld brought a long stoppage to play. The luckless Jan Vertonghen ultimately had to leave the field with suspected concussion and a broken nose, but the only positive to emerge for the home side was that the halt in play also halted the visitors’ momentum.
Dele Alli had the home side’s first shot on target five minutes after the restart as Spurs started to probe, but their final ball was often wasted and the visitors looked fairly untroubled.
It took a combination of Alderweireld, Victor Wanyama, and Moussa Sissoko to close down Tadic as he raced towards goal after Ajax threatened to get back into their first-half groove.
That groove returned 12 minutes from time and saw Tadic unselfishly square the ball to Neres, whose shot beat Lloris but not the post.
Spurs survived but were unable to build up any sustained pressure and Ajax thoroughly deserved their success.
This tie is not yet over but it’s advantage Ajax.
Key statistics
Ajax have scored the most away goals in the tournament this season (11).
Ex-Ajax players Christian Eriksen, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, and Davinson Sánchez were all named in the Spurs starting line-up.
Ajax have scored in nine consecutive Champions League away games for the first time in their club history.
van de Beek (22years 12days) is the third youngest Ajax goalscorer in a Champions League semi-final after Nordin Wooter (19years, 237 days) and Mario Melchiot (20 years, 170 days).
Ajax are the first Dutch club to have reached the Champions League semi-finals since PSV in 2005.
Ajax are the sole side still involved who came through qualifying. They are the first side in European Cup history to reach the semi-finals having come through three qualifying rounds.
Three Ajax players have recently played for English clubs: Daley Blind (Manchester United, 2014–18), Tadić (Southampton, 2014–18) and Zakaria Labyad (Fulham, 2016).
What’s next?
The sides will meet again in Amsterdam a week tomorrow (May 8) with the Champions League 2019 betting odds evenly poised.
In between, Spurs travel to Bournemouth in the Premier League, while Ajax have another major game – the Dutch Cup Final against Willem II on Sunday (May 5).
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
