Ajax tilts match against Borussia Dortmund and reaches knockout phase

Wednesday, November 3, 2021 at 10:52 PM• Dominic Mostert

After four matches, Ajax is already certain of wintering in the Champions League. Erik ten Hag’s team recorded a hard-fought 1-3 win over Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday evening and has therefore won the first four matches in the Champions League group stage for the first time in club history. Dortmund played a large part of the game with ten men due to a red card for Mats Hummels, but did open the score from a penalty by Marco Reus. In the final phase, Dusan Tadic, Sébastien Haller and Davy Klaassen turned the game around. Sporting Portugal, which simultaneously won 4-0 against Besiktas, has six points, just like Dortmund. Due to Ajax’s superior goal difference, the group win is very close.

The arbitration led by Michael Oliver claimed a leading role in the first half. Mats Hummels made a tackle on Antony in the thirtieth minute and, to his own surprise, was sent off with a red card. Although the foul in the replay turned out to be minor, Referee Oliver stood by his decision. Marco Rose immediately intervened at Dortmund by taking Thorgan Hazard off the field and bringing in a new defender with Marin Pongracic.

Minutes later, Jude Bellingham was lightly tapped in the penalty area by Noussair Mazraoui. Oliver initially did not award a penalty, but changed his mind after watching the footage on the sidelines. Reus took advantage of the opportunity, although Remko Pasveer almost knocked the ball away: 1-0. Given the game image, the goal was not unjustified. Dortmund were the better team in the first half hour and had the most chances to open the score.

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Hummels headed just over after a free kick by Julian Brandt, Lisandro Martínez led in a big header for Bellingham by slipping away, a powder from Hummels sailed wide and Pasveer turned a bet from Hummels, all before the red card was awarded. Ajax actually only picked up steam in the last fifteen minutes before half-time. After Reus’ goal, serious shooting opportunities followed for Steven Berghuis (twice) and Martínez, but it remained at 1-0 before half-time.

The second half started with an attempt by Bellingham who skimmed past the crossing, but after that Ajax was constantly on the ball, looking for an opening. Substitute Davy Klaassen couldn’t get his head right against the ball after a sharp cross from Antony, but those crosses from Antony did initiate the turnaround. Before the 1-1, Pongracic headed a ball from the Brazilian, with which he unintentionally offered Tadic a free chance at the far post: 1-1. After a chance for substitute Donyell Malen on the other side, Sébastien Haller nodded backwards after a new cross from Antony in the far corner: 1-2. Antony also delivered the cross in stoppage time, when Klaassen determined the final score from close by.