Ajax played a draw against Benfica on Wednesday evening in the eighth final of the Champions League. On a visit to the Estádio da Luz, the team of coach Erik ten Hag enjoyed a 1-2 lead halfway through, which was handed over twenty minutes before the end: 2-2. The Amsterdam goal production was provided by Dusan Tadic and Sébastien Haller. The latter was also responsible for an own goal. The return in the Johan Cruijff ArenA will take place on 15 March.
From the first whistle, the spectators present were presented with an attractive match. On behalf of Ajax, Antony became dangerous in the first minute of play after a nice dribble down the back line, although his sharp cross nipped in the bud. On the other side, Jan Vertonghen tested the reflexes of goalkeeper Remko Pasveer with a header. Benfica was especially sloppy in the build-up, and that carelessness resulted in Ajax’s opening goal in the eighteenth minute of play. After an unfortunate kick by goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos, Grimaldo ran into problems and Ajax was able to take over. From the right flank, Noussair Mazraoui delivered a tailor-made cross to Tadic, who shot in beautifully with his inside: 0-1.
GOAL! Dusan Tadic puts Ajax ahead in Lisbon! Noussair Mazraoui intercepts the ball and delivers it to his captain: 0-1. #UCL #BENAJA pic.twitter.com/Of8tQv0bmn
— VTBL ? (@vtbl) February 23, 2022
Benfica equalized halfway through the first act. Vertonghen took possession of the ball on the left side of the box. After a bodily movement, he saw Mazraoui slide away and the center defender was able to put a hard, low cross into Ajax’s goal mouth. Pasveer ducked over the ball, leaving Haller too late to react. The latter tapped the ball into his own goal: 1-1. Three minutes later, Haller compensated his own goal in the best possible way. Steven Berghuis delivered a nice deep pass in the sixteen, after which Vertonghen failed to process the ball into a corner. The leather then ended up at the feet of Haller via Vlachodimos, who finished in cold blood: 1-2.
In the remainder of the first company, Ajax had at least two excellent opportunities to double the margin. Five minutes before the end of the first half, Mazraoui shot straight into the hands of Vlachodimos. On the stroke of the halftime signal, Haller and Edson Álvarez also came close to the 1-3. However, the midfielder hit the post, after which Haller shot wide from close range from the rebound. After the restart, there was another Benfica on the pitch who clearly had no intention of settling for defeat.
Oops… That’s bad luck for Sebastien Haller and Ajax. The goal thief hits him in the wrong goal after the cross from former Ajax player Jan Vertonghen. #UCL #BENAJA pic.twitter.com/yCKkWAO6HU
— VTBL ? (@vtbl) February 23, 2022
The Portuguese attacking spirit resulted in several great opportunities, before Roman Yaremchuk scored the equalizer in the 72nd minute. Ten minutes after the break, Éverton shot just wide through Jurriën Timber’s leg; moments later, Darwin Núñez was a toe-length short to convert a cross from Rafa Silva. Timber was also able to get a ball off the line shortly before the goal, but Yaremchuk’s header was ultimately too powerful for Ajax. Pasveer did not have a perfect save after Gonçalo Ramos’ mop shot, after which the Ukrainian attacker was the first to reach the ball to nod in: 2-2.
Afterwards, Ajax was still alive and there was still hope for a new lead, but that did not materialize, even with Davy Klaassen inside the lines. Deep into stoppage time, Antony made another attempt to take a win; however, his placed shot was dove out of the corner by Vlachodimos. Antony got away well when he received a yellow card from referee Slavko Vincic. The wing striker appeared to give a slight headbutt to Núñez, who then willingly went to the ground. Vincic didn’t think the matter was serious enough to draw a red card.