Ajax Amsterdam had traveled to Lisbon with a big chest. An impeccable record of 6 wins in the Champions League group stage and 10 recent victories in domestic competition should have given the Dutch self-confidence.
But that was only the case in the first half, after the break they didn’t put enough danger on the opposing goal. Benfica, who started without the injured Swiss Haris Seferovic, turned up the heat and pressed for the equalizer when the score was 1: 2.
After the Portuguese failed repeatedly due to minor inaccuracies or the opposing goalie Remko Pasveer, the long-awaited goal came in the 72nd minute. Pasveer was not able to clear a long-range shot as desired, Roman Yaremchuk then headed the rebound to the deserved 2:2.
Haller continues to score
Sébastien Haller shaped the intense first half. The Ajax striker, who already scored 10 goals in his debut season in the Champions League, was successful in this game as well – but initially on the wrong side. Haller deflected a ball from Jan Vertonghen, who followed up perfectly after a corner kick, unluckily to make it 1-1 into his own goal (26′).
Only 3 minutes later, however, the Ivorian ironed out his mistake: he converted a rebound via the inside post to make it 2-1 and scored his 11th CL goal. That’s a record, never before had a player scored so many goals in his debut season in the “premier class”.
Dusan Tadic marked the 1:0 for the Dutch with a direct acceptance in the 18th minute. The captain celebrated his 10th CL goal. He had scored his first four years ago – against Benfica at that time as well.
In the second half, however, Tadic also let up and had to accept the draw and the end of the winning streak with his team. With everything still open for the second leg on March 15 in Amsterdam, Ajax will want to return to winning ways with their home fans behind them.