DBasia.news – The world megastar, Cristiano Ronaldo, was unable to help Juventus through Ajax Amsterdam in the 2018-19 Champions League quarter-finals. Losing 2-3 goals on aggregate, the Ajax young players showed the spirit of playing better than Juventus.
Erik ten Hag’s Ajax continued their cinderella story this season, having previously knocked out defending champions Real Madrid three times in a row in the last 16, through a 2-1 victory at Juventus headquarters.
Playing at Juventus Stadium, with an aggregate goal as strong as 1-1, Ajax was left behind through Ronaldo’s goal in the 28th minute. However, they still clung to the offensive game until two goals were created via Donny van de Beek (34 ‘) and Matthijs de Ligt (67 ‘).
Ronaldo’s 25th goal from 22 matches in the quarter-finals meant nothing after the match ended. Ajax, with its collectivity asset, the energy of young players and talented talents in their squad, was able to end Juventus’ dream of winning the Champions League title.
Ajax advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 1997. De Ligt became Ajax’s youngest goalscorer in the Champions League knockout phase since 1996, while Van de Beek scored the 15th goal of his 50 matches this season with Ajax.
“Donny van de Beek scored or gave eight goals in his last seven away games for Ajax in all competitions (five goals and three assists). Exhibition,” Tweeted @OptaJohan.
Juve, who played conservatively under Massimiliano Allegri, plus Giorgio Chiellini, could even lose more than the score 1-2 as Ajax created 14 attempted kicks and four shots on target against Juve.
“Playing football is very simple, but the simplicity of football is hard to play,” said the late Johan Cruyff in the past. The Dutch and Ajax football icons are probably ‘smiling’ at the moment seeing the glory of De Godenzonen or the Children of God.
De Ligt, Van de Beek, Frenkie de Jong, David Neres, Judge Ziyech, and Andre Onana, are young talents who are shining with Ajax. They may not have stayed at Ajax for years, but, their legacy will never be lost in the history of European football.
Ajax will await the winner of the match between Tottenham Hotspur against Manchester City in the semifinals. While on the other chart, Barcelona, which eliminated Manchester United with a 4-0 aggregate goal, will await the winner of the match between Liverpool and Porto.
“Everything is crazy, Ajax is in the semifinals! If we say it from the start of the season, people will laugh at us. This is a fantastic result for the whole of the Netherlands. None of us will ever forget tonight,” said Van de Beek.
Keep in mind, Ajax starts this season’s Champions League journey from the Round Two Qualification phase. Nobody ever thought that the four-time Champions League title would reach the top four.