AMSTERDAM (AFP) - Lucas Moura's last-gasp strike took Tottenham Hotspur to the Champions League final for the first time in their history on Wednesday (May 8), completing his hat-trick and sealing an incredible 3-2 win over Ajax to leave the Dutch side heartbroken.
Ajax's improbable European run seemed set to go on all the way to the final, as they led 3-2 on aggregate deep in stoppage time in the second leg of the semi-final at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
That was when the ball broke to Moura in the box and the Brazilian sent a low shot beyond the despairing dive of Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana to seal their comeback, making it 3-2 to them on the night, 3-3 on aggregate, and taking Mauricio Pochettino's men through on away goals.
The Ajax players slumped to the turf, their fans stunned, as they go out and Spurs advance to face fellow comeback kings Liverpool in an all-English final in Madrid on June 1.
Leading 1-0 after the first leg, the thrilling young Dutch side appeared to have killed the tie after captain Matthijs de Ligt and Hakim Ziyech both scored in the first half here.
That left Tottenham needing a comeback to match that of Liverpool against Barcelona the previous night, but in an even shorter amount of time.
A quickfire brace by Moura early in the second half gave them something to cling to, before he struck the decisive blow, denying Ajax a first final since 1996.
Erik ten Hag's team, who had already eliminated the holders, Real Madrid, and Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus this season, were applauded by their devastated fans at full-time and must now somehow lift themselves to try to win the Dutch title.
Â
Â
Â
They had been dealt a blow just minutes before kick-off when Brazilian winger David Neres pulled out of their starting line-up after the warm-up, his place taken by the young Dane, Kasper Dolberg.
Whirlwind start
That last-minute switch did not perturb the Dutch club, though. Far from it. Dusan Tadic moved to the left wing, and Ajax set about tearing into their opponents right from the off, just as they had done in the first leg.
They won a corner after Hugo Lloris stretched to his left to beat away a Tadic shot, and from the delivery that followed from Lasse Schoene, De Ligt rose to head home a fifth-minute opener.
Spurs - without Harry Kane but with Son Heung-min back after missing the first leg due to suspension - threatened an immediate reply as a Son cross hit the near post, but Ajax escaped and came again, a Tadic shot that fizzed just past the far post acting as a prelude for what was to follow in the 35th minute.
This time Tadic, the former Southampton player, cut the ball back for Ziyech, whose first-time shot on his left foot flew into the far corner from a difficult angle.
It was a wonderful goal, and it had surely killed the tie.
Spurs fans were understandably subdued, and they would not have harboured too much hope in Fernando Llorente as the big striker replaced Victor Wanyama for the second half.
Yet, the way Pochettino's side came back out after half-time echoed what Liverpool had done at Anfield 24 hours earlier.
They scored their first in the 55th minute, Moura combining with Alli and slotting low past Onana.
Â
Â
Four minutes after that, Onana made an improbable save from Llorente's effort inside the six-yard box, but the ball came back to Moura and the Brazilian turned and managed to find a corner.
He wheeled away in celebration, all too aware that Tottenham were now just one goal away from completing the turnaround.
With such tension, Ajax no longer appeared so liberated, but Ziyech twice nearly scored again, grazing the post with a first-time shot and then hitting the same upright in the 79th minute.
Jan Vertonghen hit the bar at the other end, but just when it looked like Ajax would hang on, Moura delivered the killer blow.
Barcelona played hosts to Liverpool at the Camp Nou in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals and registered a 3-0 win. The win almost confirms their passage to the finals but will be wary of being complacent in the second leg, keeping in mind their past experiences. Here are three things we learned from Barcelona's 3-0 win over
Oct 07, 2016 · When fans get banned for life from sports stadiums Most times when a fan is banned from a stadium, whether for running onto the field, fighting in the stands or some other offense, the process
Jaguars ban four fans who threw objects in Seahawks game
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is relaxed about Mohamed Salah's goalscoring drought, saying the Egyptian forward remains a key part of the title chasers' attacking armoury. Salah, who scored 44
Klopp relaxed about Salah's Liverpool drought - World Soccer Talk
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/04/03/klopp-relaxed-about-salahs-liverpool-drought/
London (AFP) - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is relaxed about Mohamed Salah's goalscoring drought, saying the Egyptian forward remains a key part of the title chasers' attacking armoury. Salah, who scored 44 times in his maiden season at Anfield, has gone eight matches without finding the net bu
Jürgen Klopp unconcerned by Mohamed Salah's goal drought
Hazard leads tributes for departing Fabregas, Football News
Messi notches 400 Laliga goals. Lionel Messi scoring Barcelona's second goal against Eibar at the Nou Camp on Sunday. It was his 400th LaLiga goal after just 435 games.
Messi notches 400th La Liga goal - Nigerian News Direct
Man Utd fans split on blaming De Gea or Herrera for Mustafi's Arsenal goal. and Manchester United fans didn't know whether to blame David De Gea or Ander Herrera. (@The_One_Bissaka
EPL: Tottenham blame De Gea for 1-0 defeat to Manchester
Defender Jan Vertonghen (L) celebrates with teammate Son Heung-Min (R) after scoring their second goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium in London on February 13, 2019.
Champions League: Son Shines As Tottenham Beat Dortmund 3-0
Football: Italy upset Australia at Women's World Cup with Bonansea double; As Canarinhas thump Reggae Girlz. 1 day ago. VALENCIENNES, France (REUTERS, THE GUARDIAN) - Barbara Bonansea scored twice to give Italy a surprise, last-gasp 2-1 victory against Australia in their opening Group C game at the women's football World Cup on Sunday (June
Women's World Cup: Italy upsets Australia with Bonansea
MADRID (AFP) - Ghanaian forward Kevin-Prince Boateng is on the verge of joining Barcelona in a shock loan move from Italian side Sassuolo, according to media reports in Spain on Monday.. Read more
Kevin-Prince Boateng set for shock Barcelona move - reports
'How could he do that?': Maurizio Sarri's outburst revealed as Chelsea chiefs bid to avoid a crisis over Kepa. Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri was furious near the end of the Carabao Cup final
Maurizio Sarri says Kepa was RIGHT to refuse to come off in
Football: Jorginho fires Chelsea as recalled Kepa shines
Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign Sassuolo forward Kevin-Prince Boateng on a six-month loan deal with an €8 million Barcelona set to complete shock Boateng loan move. Trending News.
Brian Jensen knows all about a battle to be Burnley's number one. The great Dane always had to fight for the gloves during his 10 years at Turf Moor, more often than not coming out on top. Danny
Goalkeepers
'He's great to watch, but he's not God': Pope sets fans straight on Messi the pope praised his Argentine compatriot Messi, but said he must not be called God. Pope Francis is known to be a
'He's great to watch, but he's not God': Pope sets fans
However, unlike England camps of old where club rivalries led to factions forming on international duty, Kane believes Gareth Southgate's squad will not be distracted ahead of Euro 2020 qualifiers against Czech Republic on Friday and away to Montenegro on Monday. "We put that to one side, even the Liverpool and City boys.
Kane insists club rivalries will not split England camp
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar