Ajax made a big impression in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. Sporting Portugal was defeated by no less than 1-5 in the Estádio José Alvalade. Sébastien Haller was the star with four goals, but the Dutch newspapers are also full of praise for Antony. The Brazilian winger had a blast in Lisbon and was involved in four goals before being replaced by compatriot David Neres twenty minutes before the end of the game.
“MAGNIFIQUE!” writes The Telegraph in big letters. “Otherwise the first appearance of Sébastien Haller (27) in the Champions League cannot be described. The question of whether the striker, who scores a lot in the Eredivisie, is also good enough for the million-dollar ball, was answered by the French Ivorian in Estadio José Alvalade himself with a loud and clear ‘oui, oui’,” said reporter Mike Verweij, who told Haller the 0. -1, 0-2, 1-4 and 1-5 saw making. “INCROYABLE, unbelievable!”
The club watcher saw Erik ten Hag’s team play excellent against the Portuguese champion. “Illustrative of the enormous confidence at Ajax was the first action by Jurriën Timber, a player who only had one Champions League minute behind his name until the trip to Portugal. The defender received an impossible ball after a few seconds, but cut his direct opponent out with the bravado of a routine,” said Verweij. “With the victory, the images of which are going around the world, the strong desire to winter in the Champions League should be the goal from now on.
Also in the General Newspaper Haller is the most talked about player on the side of Ajax. “With an entrance that he probably did not expect in his wildest dreams, Sébastien Haller did himself and Ajax a great service during the CL kick-off in Lisbon: 1-5.” The newspaper states that Haller in the Champions League had a baptism of fire for in the history books. “Never before has a debutant been accurate twice in his first nine minutes on the highest European stage.” Even after the break, the Ivorian international continued to score. He determined the final score after 63 minutes of play. “After Haller had recorded his fourth and Ajax’s fifth at the request of Noussair Mazraoui, teammates (who pointed to the unleashed striker) and the 1,300 accompanying supporters (who chanted his name) completed the fairytale debut of the no longer controversial striker.
“This evening is allowed with capital letters in the history book of Ajax”, writes Willem Vissers in de Volkskrant. “Thanks to swagger, thinking ahead, keeping the field wide, attacking across the wings, with Daley Blind and especially Noussair Mazraoui as extra attackers and builders, showing individual class. Ajax owned everything that football has to offer. Except a top goalkeeper. Remko Pasveer was the insecure factor, although he prepared for a goal, which tempted him to slide over his knees for joy.” With a long ball on Antony, Pasveer was at the base of the 0-2 in the ninth minute. Moments later, the goalkeeper made a mistake with a bet by Paulinho.
According to Vissers, Antony, involved in four Amsterdam goals, was the driving force behind Ajax. “Tricks, feints. Loose hips. Rúben Vinagre, most of the time his opponent, probably prayed to himself for a substitution. He really didn’t know where to walk, what to do. Well, he handed out a beech, shortly before half-time, when Antony had already prepared three hits. That replacement came at half time, but Reis was also unable to do much.” Not long after Pasveer’s error, Steven Berghuis signed for the 1-3. “Because that too is football, ultimately a team sport. The group makes up for the individual’s mistakes. And Ajax was a team that thanked the audience in the corner for the wonderful evening.”
Antony in a duel with Rúben Vinagre, who was substituted at half time.
Also in Fidelity Antony gets the compliments for his performance in Lisbon. “On the right, Antony imagined himself in a playground. The dazzling Brazilian was ultimately at the basis of an Amsterdam goal four times, which earned him applause not only from the 1200 Ajax supporters who traveled along, but also from the Sporting fans.” Where Antony gets the compliments, is the criticism for Pasveer. The goalkeeper was anything but convinced during his first minutes for Ajax in the Champions League. “It again raises the question whether Ajax has done well to start the season with two keepers of this age, one of whom without much international experience. Onana can participate again from November 4; uncertain whether this will happen. Ajax cannot afford to be vulnerable under the bar if it finally wants to progress in the Champions League.”