Champions League
Ajax – Benfica 0:1: The Vlachodimos team froze Amsterdam
A Darwin Nounies goal gave Benfica a terrific 1-0 win over Ajax in Amsterdam to see them through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League after a 2-2 first-leg win. Odysseas Vlachodimos was not threatened, showing stability whenever needed.
His Benfica Odyssey Vlachodimou denied the predictions, managed to keep one of the best offensive features in the world this season, Ajax, at zero and clinched victory with a goal from Darwin Nounies 77′ 1-0 in the “Johan Cruyff Arena” and at the same time qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
The Portuguese team managed to limit the Dutch, ‘blocking’ their trumps and scoring the ‘golden’ goal in one of their few attacks that sends them into the next stage and into Friday’s draw.
Both teams showed their intentions from the first minutes. Ajax would try to “choke” their opponent by pressing high and holding the ball until they found a way to get close to the opponent’s home. The Portuguese accepted this condition, defended with many players behind the ball and relied on the speed of some players, such as Darwin Nounies, to hit the opponent.
No shot paid off. Ajax have had several finals, but few really worried Odysseas Vlachodimos. The best moment, a goal from Sebastian Ale, was basically no phase as there was an offside from Dusan Tadic who took the assist.
Vlachodimos managed an impressive operation on a long-range shot by Ryan Hrafenberch in one of the hosts’ two well-aimed finals in the first part. The “Adler” had only one finale and that in a harmless head.
Nelson Verisimo threw Sualie Meite into the match instead of Adel Taarabt, but the picture of the match remained the same. Ajax were always on the ball at Benfica but became less of a threat from the first half.
He even recruited high balls, but all his players’ efforts ended in oblivion. The most dangerous moments were those when his players didn’t have time to shoot due to last moment markers from Benfica players.
In the 77th minute, a rare Portuguese attack resulted in a foul from the right. The execution of Alex Grimaldo (who scored twice in the second half but kept playing) ended with a header from Nounies and a poor exit from Andre Onanas.
Portugal’s 1-0 was a fact and then the visitors did everything at the back to keep that lead and finally managed to celebrate a great qualification and their presence in Friday’s draw at the end of the game.
The results of the first games of the round of 16
The results of the second games of the round of 16
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