UEFA Champions League: Ajax Hit Spurs 1-0 In London
Dutch giant killers, Ajax Amsterdam headed home on Tuesday night with a 1-0 away advantage after dealing a telling blow on English premiership side, Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Champions League first leg semi-final encounter in London.
It was the 22 year-old Donny van de Beek’s lone strike in the 15th minute that separated both sides inside the newly-built London Stadium.
In a match that saw the visitors coming tops with a 54-46 ball possession, the Mauricio Pochettino-tutored Tottenham now have their hands full as they seek to overturn the one goal deficit next week in Amsterdam.
The Amsterdam showdown on Wednesday, May 8 will decide who among them is hitting the June final to confront either Spanish greats, FC Barcelona or Premiership title chasers, Liverpool.
Having already knocked out Real Madrid and Juventus en route to their first semi-final in Europe’s elite competition since 1997, Ajax were too pacey for a labouring Spurs side.
They were especially enterprising in the first half in which they could have scored more goals. However, Tottenham did improve after the break but the Dutch team stoutly defended their lead to restrict the home attack and almost scored a second goal late on when David Neres hit the post. – NAN
