Ajax started threateningly and eagerly. Antony’s header in the first minutes went just wide. In the 8th minute it was Sébastien Haller who seemed to score, but his goal was disallowed for offside. There were many half chances in the first half hour, but the ball always fell just not right for the team from Amsterdam. Also on the side of Benfica there were no finished chances.
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Around the 20th minute, the Portuguese got three corners in quick succession, but that did not lead to great danger for André Onana’s goal. Ajax remained the better team. A nice shot by Steven Berghuis in the 25th minute went wide, but deserved more. Ajax continued to dominate and the threat grew. Ryan Gravenberch could have opened the score in the 35th minute, but his goal was parried by Benfica goalie Odisseas Vlachodimos. In the closing seconds of the first half, Martinez attempted another goal, but his ball went high so that both teams went to the dressing room without scoring.
Steven Berghuis tries to hold off.
Ⓒ AP
Nuñez
Ajax came out of the dressing room unchanged. The Amsterdammers started where they left off. Within minutes, Dusan Tadic had the first chance, but his shot from a spin went wide. In the 58th minute it was Benfica that almost had the opening goal against all odds. After a corner, Jan Vertonghen was able to head in freely, but he missed the direction to the goal and headed the ball wide where no one was standing.
A few minutes later it was Antony on the other side who had the best chance of the match so far. After a cross from Daley Blind, the Brazilian headed just over. For the time being, it was just not enough for Erik ten Hag’s team. The time for the redeeming goal was getting closer and closer, but fifteen minutes before the end the Portuguese got the stadium quiet as a mouse. It was Nuñez who headed a twisted free kick behind Onana: 0-1. The goalkeeper didn’t look good.
Ajax had to chase to force an extension. Ten Hag decided on a double substitution. Alvarez and Berghuis were sidelined for Davy Klaassen and Brian Brobbey. It did not benefit the Amsterdammers. No goals were scored in the 6 minutes of extra time, so that the Champions League adventure came to an early end immediately after the group stage in which Ajax managed to win all matches.