Overrun by Ajax Amsterdam: BVB conceded the highest defeat in its CL history

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Overrun by Ajax Amsterdam
BVB conceded the highest defeat in its CL history

The duel between the previously flawless teams in Champions League Group C ends with a bitter disappointment for Borussia Dortmund. Ajax Amsterdam are the better team from the first minute and convert their superiority into goals. At BVB, captain Marco Reus sets the direction with an own goal.

Erling Haaland raised his hands apologetically and asked the disappointed BVB fans for forgiveness, the final whistle in Amsterdam was almost like a relief: Borussia Dortmund received a historic rubdown in the fabulous attack magic of Ajax Amsterdam. In the match ball game for the Champions League round of 16, BVB was amazed at a lesson in modern power football and went down 0: 4 (0: 2) with no chance against the record champions of the Netherlands. It was the highest Dortmund defeat in the premier class.

Captain Marco Reus headed an own goal (11th) – and then things really started. With the legendary “totaalvoetbal” of earlier days, Ajax put down one of the most brilliant halves that European football has had to offer at this level in recent years.

It was sheer luck that Daley Blind (25th) made it 2-0 until the break, given eight huge chances in the loudly loud Johan Cruijff Arena. Antony (57th) and the former Frankfurt Sebastien Haller (72nd) followed suit. Ryan Gravenberch (42nd) hit the post for Ajax, Erling Haaland (48th) hit the crossbar for the overwhelmed BVB.

Two brilliantly playful teams that stormily attack each other – BVB coach Marco Rose rightly feared it could get too wild. “The exchange of blows must not degenerate,” he therefore demanded. It was not, because the Dortmunders were hanging on the ropes and did not hit back. It was hazy and oppressive, the fair techno boomed, the Ajax fans set off a huge fireworks display: The mood of the 55,000 fans on both sides was overwhelming. The game did justice to the framework, but BVB wavered under high pressure in the struggle for dominance and possession.

First shot on goal in Dortmund a few seconds before half-time

First Mats Hummels saved Antony (9th) with a tackle, then Blind (10th) missed another big chance – and the third was there. After a sharp free kick, Reus slipped the ball over his head into his own goal. The still smoky stadium almost boiled over. On the other side, the passes did not find their target: Reus, for example, slipped just past a Haaland cross (18th). The Ajax onslaught gave room for counter-attacks, on the other hand the opponent’s vortex seemed to be too fast for the black-and-yellow defense: After a perfect lay-off, Hallers hit Blind.

Ajax literally had BVB in a headlock. Double passes, dream combinations: Dortmund couldn’t keep up with the chances of Steven Berghuis, Haller, Gravenberch or Noussair Mazraoui. After all, Haaland had Borussia’s first dangerous shot on goal in stoppage time in the first half.

Haaland’s counterattack could have been a turning point, but Remko Pasveer artistically steered the ball to the crossbar. Ajax stormed brilliantly over the outer positions, the Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel did, among other things, hard work against Gravenberch (49th). Rose punished striker Donyell Malen, once himself at Ajax, before conceding a third goal with the early substitution. Haaland missed the consolation goal (67th).

For BVB, which, like Amsterdam, had won the first two games, Group C will continue with the home game against Ajax on November 3rd. Other opponents are Sporting Lisbon and Besiktas Istanbul.