Benfica Lisbon have disenchanted the attacking artists of Ajax Amsterdam and have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in six years.
The 37-time Portuguese champions happily won the round of 16 second leg against the Dutch record champions 1-0 (0-0) and managed the surprise with ex-Dortmund player Julian Weigl in the starting eleven after the 2-2 win in the first leg. Darwin Nunez scored the decisive goal (77th).
Amsterdam dominated from the start and at times squeezed the guests, but the hosts didn’t create any great chances. Lisbon defended skillfully but rarely put pinpricks.
Ajax was also superior after the change, but too harmless. There was little to see of the splendor of the two wins against Borussia Dortmund in the preliminary round. Sébastien Haller, who had always scored in the first seven games in the premier class, was largely unsubscribed.
Lisbon rarely advanced but took the first chance to take the lead. Nunez headed in from a free kick.