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.
The Pakistan national Football team represents Pakistan association football in FIFA-authorised events and is controlled by the Pakistan Football Federation, the governing body for football in Pakistan. Pakistan's home ground is Punjab Stadium, Lahore. Pakistan became a member of FIFA in 1948 joining the Asian Football Confederation. Pakistan's
Khash-Erdene Batbayar - Wikipedia
Record 3.57 billion watch FIFA World Cup 2018, 1.12 billion tune in for France vs Croatia final The report further stated that the total viewership included 309.7 million people who followed matches through digital platforms. 231.82 million out of home and digital viewers tuned in for the final.
More than half the world watched record-breaking - fifa.com
Jurgen Klopp has urged his Liverpool players to fight with every fibre of their bodies for the Premier League title, while also issuing a rallying call to supporters. The Reds host Bournemouth at
Liverpool players must fight with every fibre: Juergen Klopp
Man City title hopes hit by shock defeat at Newcastle The Saigon Times Daily Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts during the match at St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain January 29, 2019 - PHOTO: REUTERS
Man City title hopes hit by shock defeat at Newcastle - The
Manchester United's Class of '92 coach and mentor Eric Harrison passes away in sleep aged 81. It is the first official confirmation of the financial hit United took when they sacked the £346,000
José Mourinho | The Guardian
AFC Wimbledon delivered an FA Cup fourth-round shock as the League One strugglers humbled Premier League West Ham United 4-2 in a gripping tie in south-west London on Saturday.
AFC Wimbledon humble West Ham in FA Cup shock - Football
PARIS (AFP) - Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman said on Tuesday (Feb 12) the club will pay the fee for striker Emiliano Sala if they are contractually required to do so.. Read more at
Ligue 1 » News » Cardiff to pay Sala fee if necessary - report
Calling on Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino to drop the 32-year-old, he added: "Tottenham's priority now is not about sentiment… All that matters is finishing in the top four, because getting Champions League football next season is so important for the club's future." However, former Spurs goalkeeper Erik Thorstvedt has backed Lloris.
Spurs should drop Lloris for prime 4, says Jenas - Latest
Newport manager Michael Flynn says beating Manchester City in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday would represent the biggest shock in the history of the competition. County are 82 places
Victory over Man City would be biggest FA Cup shock ever
Egypt striker Mohamed Salah has been named African Footballer of the Year for the second successive year at the Confederation of African Football's 2018 awards ceremony in Dakar on Tuesday. "I have dreamt of winning this award since I was a child and now I have done so twice in a row," Salah said soon after receiving his trophy in Dakar.
Salah retains African football award, Football News & Top
Chelsea news: Maurizio Sarri hails Gonzalo Higuain and makes Eden Hazard revelation CHELSEA boss Maurizio Sarri hailed Gonzalo Higuain after the striker scored his first goals since moving to the
Alonso hails Sarri and reveals secrets of his partnership
LIVERPOOL: Goals from Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino earned Liverpool a 2-0 win over Porto on Tuesday to give Juergen Klopp's side the upper hand in their Champions League quarter-final tie
Keita and Firmino give Liverpool 2-0 win over Porto | Sports
Kevin-Prince Boateng set for shock Barcelona move - reports Description: Born in Germany, the half-brother of Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng moved to Serie A last year after helping Eintracht Frankfurt win the German Cup.
Football: Boateng set for shock Barcelona move - reports
extratout.com/2019/01/21/football-boateng-set-for-shock-barcelona-move-reports/
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.Catalan daily Sport reported that the leaders of La Liga had agre
Boateng set for shock Barcelona move - reports - ARYSports.tv
0 comments:
Post a Comment