Benfica hold up Ajax Amsterdam to qualify for the quarter-finals

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Ajax will be able to bite their fingers. After having outrageously dominated Benfica Lisbon, the Dutch paid for their lack of realism and finally bowed to an achievement by Lisbon’s Darwin Nunez (0-1, 2-2 first leg), Tuesday, March 15. While they were undefeated so far in the Champions League this season, the Amsterdammers are therefore eliminated from the European Cup. Benfica qualify for their first C1 quarter-final since 2016.

In a scenario close to that of the first leg, Benfica Lisbon surprised Ajax Amsterdam as the Dutch multiplied their assaults on the Portuguese goal throughout the game. Conquerors, the Ajacides proved to be dangerous by finding gaps on the wings, in particular thanks to Dusan Tadic, Ryan Gravenberch and Antony. Quite undisciplined, the Lisbon people for their part had difficulty in projecting themselves against because of many losses of the ball too quickly.

Even if the Portuguese started to take their heads out of the water in the last half hour, it was still against the course of the game that Darwin Nunez came to offer victory to his team, in the 77th minute, on the Benfica’s only shot on target. The Uruguayan took advantage of a Lisbon highlight and proved to be much more effective than his opponents, who attempted 16 strikes without scoring. The Ajacides, clumsy, have even framed only two attempts and will be able to regret their lack of realism.

Even their top striker, Sébastien Haller, who had so far scored 11 goals in seven Champions League games, did not find the net. However, he thought he had launched his team well from the 8th minute, but his goal was canceled for an offside position by passer Dusan Tadic.

Despite its 66% possession and its many attempts, Ajax Amsterdam is therefore eliminated from the Champions League by a Benfica team who knew how to turn their backs. A failure for a formation which had brilliantly finished first in its group by winning all its matches.


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