The Ajax Women made history tonight by reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time. More than 15,000 spectators saw Ajax beat AS Roma 2-1 in the Arena.
It was make or break for the Ajax Women tonight. If they win, coach Suzanne Bakker’s team would immediately qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League and if they lose, the European adventure would end tonight.
While Ajax trailed 0-2 after fifteen minutes in the away match in Rome, the match in the Johan Cruijff Arena got off to a slower start. The opening phase was sloppy from both sides. The first big chance came after fifteen minutes for AS Roma, but Canadian striker Viens shot straight at goalkeeper Van Eijk.
After just over half an hour things went wrong for Ajax. After a free kick, Roma captain Bartoli headed in the 0-1. In the final minutes before half-time, the Italians almost doubled the score with another Bartoli header that hit the crossbar. But it was Tiny Hoekstra who ensured that Ajax went into halftime with a draw. In the 45th minute she scored the 1-1.
Goal Ajax
In the second half, Ajax played more confidently with a number of nice combinations and beautiful movements from the young, sixteen-year-old talent Lily Johannes. In the 67th minute the spectators held their breath for a moment and Ajax got away with a ball from Viens that rolled just wide.
The last twenty minutes were make or break with great chances on both sides. In the 85th minute the stadium exploded when a corner from Sherida Spitse fortunately fell. Substitute Zara Kramzar headed the ball into her own goal. It remained tense after that, but Ajax took the win.
The Champions League quarter-finals are in March. The final is on May 25 in Bilbao, Spain.