Ajax has secured the group win in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. The team of coach Erik ten Hag had enough of a draw at a visit to Besiktas to be sure of the first place, but took the full loot with a 1-2 win. In the second half, Ajax turned a 1-0 deficit thanks to a double hit by substitute Sébastien Haller, who, together with Robert Lewandowski, is the top scorer in the Champions League with nine goals. Ajax took fifteen points from the first five group matches and is therefore still clear.
Ajax arrived with the necessary changes compared to the competition match against RKC Waalwijk (0-5 victory) on Sunday. Surprisingly André Onana was under the bar; Furthermore, Perr Schuurs, Nicolás Tagliafico, Davy Klaassen, David Neres and Mohamed Daramy made their entrance into the starting eleven. The first big opportunity was for Besiktas: after ten minutes Valentin Rosier cut his left leg, before grazing the intersection with a powder. On the other side, Ajax became threatening via Klaassen and Neres, but halfway through the first half it was Besiktas that took the lead.
Goal! Besiktas takes the lead via a converted penalty from Rachid Ghezzal. Noussair Mazraoui made hands in the penalty area earlier. #UCL #BESAJA pic.twitter.com/jTnNhhubdN
— VTBL ? (@vtbl) Nov 24, 2021
Rachid Ghezzal was allowed to score a penalty kick because Noussair Mazraoui touched a header from Mehmet Topal with outstretched arm. Referee Irfan Peljto was quickly called to the side by the VAR and after viewing the images also ruled that there was a handball. Onana had a chance to distinguish himself, but Ghezzal fired cleanly into the top right corner. Subsequently, however, Onana was of great value to Ajax. He prevented Cyle Larin from scoring twice; the second time it was a one-on-one situation, right in front of the goal.
At the start of the second half, Daramy, who was unlucky in the finish, gave way to Haller. The substitute only needed eight minutes to score. Shortly after a mop ball from Steven Berghuis was turned by Mert Günok, Lisandro Martínez sent a splitting through ball towards Tagliafico from his own half. The steamed back served Haller, who was able to finish at close range. After the break, Ajax played as if it was reborn and had much more control over the match. From the turn, Haller missed a good chance for his second goal, but halfway through the second half he still made it 1-2. Martínez was still close to 1-3 via a header, but Günok made the save. In stoppage time, Haller’s goal was disallowed due to Neres’ offside in the run-up.
9 goals! ??
The man does not know how to stop and is now on a level with super striker Lewandowski ??Unprecedented numbers??#ZiggoSport #UCL #besaja pic.twitter.com/AgehH2Y0Yc
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) Nov 24, 2021