Ajax is also shaking up Tottenham

Tottenham, which had to make do without the suspended Heung-Min Son and the injured Harry Kane, initially struggled to get Ajax's fast-paced game under control. Donny van de Beek's 1-0 win was therefore deserved. In the second half, the Londoners gradually took the reins in front of their own crowd, but from Mauricio Pochettino's team's point of view it remained 0-1.

Ajax sets the tone “We want to play ourselves and dictate the game,” Spurs coach Mauricio Pochettino said on Sky TV immediately before the game. The opposite was the case, because in the initial phase the guest dominated the action. As with the triumphs over defending champions Real Madrid or Juventus Turin and Cristiano Ronaldo, Ajax shone with breathtaking, fast-paced football. Deep in the opponent's half, the Dutch youngsters put the Spurs under pressure, had significantly more possession of the ball and shone with impressive combinations. Donny van de Beek made it 1-0. © AP / Frank Augstein

One of these relays also took the lead after a quarter of an hour. Hakim Ziyech deliberately released van de Beek, and the 22-year-old kept calm in front of Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, hesitated, faked - and beat the French national goalkeeper with a well-placed shot into the left corner. Nine minutes later, van de Beek even had the chance to make it 0-2, but Lloris parried (24'). Tottenham caused danger in front of the Ajax goal for the first time in the 26th minute. However, after a free kick from Christian Eriksen, Spanish attacker Fernando Llorente headed wide. Personnel concerns are not getting any smaller Spurs' already severe personnel concerns, which had knocked Borussia Dortmund out of the competition in the round of 39, worsened considerably five minutes before half-time. After a collision with Ajax goalkeeper André Onana and his teammate Toby Alderweireld, Tottenham's defensive giant Jan Vertonghen was left lying with a bleeding wound. After lengthy treatment and with a fresh jersey, he initially tried to continue playing, but then had to be substituted (XNUMX'), visibly dazed. Jan Vertonghen lay there in a daze. © AP / Frank Augstein

In their first European semi-final in 57 years, the Premier League club amazingly achieved their strongest phase to date. Tottenham came dangerously close to the Ajax goal several times, especially in stoppage time in the first half. Alderweireld's header went over (45'+4), Moussa Sissoko, who came on for Vertonghen, tried from a distance (45'+5). For once, the Amsterdam defense around Matthijs de Ligt, at 19 years and 261 days the youngest captain to ever appear in a Champions League semi-final, appeared vulnerable in this scene. A few seconds after the restart, the Dutch record champions were lucky that Llorente hesitated too long in a good position (46th).

Coach Erik ten Hag gestured on the sidelines and asked his players to be more offensive again. But the Spurs now became more dangerous. Ajax pace setter Frenkie De Jong, who is moving to FC Barcelona in the summer for 75 million euros, was unable to direct the game as usual and as ten Hag wanted.

Instead of playing magic in front of the opponent's goal, the Dutch now had to vigorously defend their own. It took until the 78th minute for the first notable attack in the second half. This almost made it 0-2; But David Neres only hit the post. Tottenham coach Pochettino brought in two fresh players in Juan Foyth and Ben Davies ten minutes before the end - but despite the significant increase in performance, it was no longer enough to equalize.

Tottenham - Ajax 0-1 Goals: 0:1 Van de Beek (15th)

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Ajax is also shaking up Tottenham

Ajax Amsterdam have put themselves in a good position for the second leg after another convincing performance. Erik ten Hag's team won 1-0 against Tottenham.

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