Benfica (2) vs. Ajax (2) – Results

Ajax with a spectacular game level and Benfica playing with their hearts. Both teams had an intense and exciting match in Da Luz, in Portugal; now everything comes to the second leg in Amsterdam after this tie on the scoreboard of 2-2, to see who survives this round of 16. A little more encouragement and with some doubts in the Portuguese and Dutch respectively ahead of the second game on March 15.

First Half

Those led by Ten Hag set the pace of the match from the start of the first half, as expected in the run-up to this match. Antony was the main problem for Benfica, who made a spectacular play in minute 2, which could not end in a goal. Fifteen minutes later, through another very good move, he left Mazraoui space for the Moroccan to assist Tadic; who had been very unlucky in front of a goal in the last month with two bad penalties and a key goal disallowed.

Benfica’s response was immediate, and they used Ajax’s weakest wing in this match. Antony worked hard on the right-wing but Tadic’s physical condition is no longer the same as in previous years.

After a failed shot by Vertonghen with a header from a corner kick, the Belgian himself crossed again and Haller put an own goal so that the score was 1-1, in the 26th minute.

The top scorer in this UEFA Champions League, Haller, wanted to equalize the actions and three minutes later, also in a second move and with Vertonghen as an assistant, he regained the lead in the 29th minute. Then, Edson Álvarez was able to extend Ajax’s lead before the break but ran into the stick.

After several attacks from Ajax, the first half of this exciting match ended, with a 2-1 lead for the Dutch, with a Benfica that seemed to have the spirit and desire, but lacked the tools to score goals.

Second Half

After the break, Ajax did not start with the intense rhythm with which the Portuguese bet, and they paid dearly. After a counterattack then a possible penalty from Timber, it ended with Yaremchuk, who had already created a scoring chance in the 71st minute, picking up a rebound assisted by Pasveer to tie the game.

The game continued in this vein until the end and ended tied at 2 goals, so everything will be defined in the second leg in Amsterdam.