35′ WHAT A GOAL! ZIYECH MAKES IT 2-0! This is wonderful from Ajax! Tadic gets the ball over Trippier, and combines with Dolberg. The former Southampton man then picks up his head and plays an inch-perfect cut-back to Ziyech, who slams an exquisite first-time finish into the far corner.
D. Tadić
Assist
35′ Assist Dušan Tadić
34′ Excellent play by De Jong, who just oozes confidence and class as he picks up possession right on the edge of Ajax’s box, but still gets his way out of trouble before drawing a foul from Sissoko. The 21-year-old is an incredible talent, and Ajax’s loss is certainly Barcelona’s gain.
32′ Wanyama – and the referee – are both back on the field and play has continued.
31′ A pause in play now, as Wanyama has to receive some treatment. The referee has also had to get some help, having seemingly had an issue with his radio.
30′ SO CLOSE! A reckless ball from Onana threatens to put Ajax in trouble, but instead of caving under pressure, Ten Hag’s side calmly play their way out from the back. Tadic leads the counter, squaring up Alderweireld before getting around his former Southampton team-mate and thumping a low effort across the face of goal, inches wide.
29′ It appears that Trippier is struggling with what looks to be a groin injury. However, with no natural right-back on the bench, Pochettino is short on options should the ex-Burnley full-back have to come off.
28′ An outswinging corner from Rose is aimed for Vertonghen, but the defender – who is wearing a protective mask following his injury in the first leg – can’t get there. Moura meets it on the rebound, 20 yards out, but his wild strike sails well off target.
27′ Tottenham make a real fist of clearing their lines, with Ajax’s forwards all swarming the ball. However, Alli gets back to help out and, after some assured touches, bursts through the hosts’ midfield and gets Spurs upfield. Excellent play from the England international, who has looked bright so far.
26′ Ajax are yet to lose a Champions League game in which they have taken the lead. Spurs, meanwhile, have now conceded seven goals in the opening 15 minutes of matches in the Champions League this season, the most of any side.
24′ More promising play from the visitors, as Moura bundles his way into the area and lays the ball back to Eriksen, who made a late run from midfield. The former Ajax star takes aim, but his strike is directed straight at Onana.
23′ For one of the first times, Tottenham manage to play their way through Ajax’s press. That leads to Sissoko driving through midfield and finding Alli, who plays in Son, but the forward’s prod does not trouble Onana.
21′ Ziyech delivers a decent free-kick, but Vertonghen gets too it. Spurs look to pounce on the counter-attack, but Ajax’s players all race back – De Jong effortlessly getting to the ball before Son, with Ziyech then on hand to dribble his way out of danger.
20′ Fantastic pressing by Ajax, led by the superb Van de Beek, who forces Sissoko into an error. Tadic picks up the loose ball, and threads it through to Tagliafico, who draws a foul down on the left.
18′ You have to wonder how Neres’ absence will impact Ten Hag’s tactics as the game wears on. Ajax have been right at it from the first whistle, but Neres’ pace is a huge asset, and though Tadic has played more often as a winger than a striker during his career, he does not posses the same speed as his Brazilian team-mate. So far, though, he has not been missed.
M. Sissoko
Yellow Card
16′ A hefty challenge by Sissoko, who lunged in late on Tagliafico. There appeared to be little malice in the challenge, but it was somewhat reckless, and the Spurs midfielder rightly receives a booking.
14′ Good pressure by Tottenham, as Son looks to link up with Alli, but Schone is on hand to make a crucial tackle. He finds Ziyech, who in turn tries to pick out Dolberg, but the striker can’t get there before Vertonghen does.
12′ De Ligt’s header for Ajax was their 150th goal in the Champions League. They are the 16th side to score as many in the competition, and the first Dutch club to reach this total.
10′ Moura does well to get away from Blind, and sets Alli away, but his shot is blocked. Spurs quickly win the ball back, however, with Eriksen finding Alli, who shoots wide. It would not have counted anyway, however, given that the offside flag had gone up.
9′ Tottenham have responded well to going behind, and Pochettino’s side are starting to get a bit of a foothold on the ball, though the noise from the Ajax faithful is deafening and, spurred on by their fans, Ten Hag’s side press their visitors, forcing it all the way back to Lloris.
8′ With his opener, De Ligt has become the fourth teenager to score in a Champions League semi-final.
7′ OFF THE POST! Spurs are almost level. An unbelievable start in Amsterdam, as Tottenham race down the other end almost immediately from the restart, with Son sending in a low cross-shot that evades Onana, but fortunately for the hosts, it clips away off the base of the upright.
L. Schöne
Assist
6′ Spurs’ defending left a lot to be desired, but it was a superb corner by Schone, and an even better header by Ajax’s teenage sensation De Ligt, who had easily escaped Trippier.
M. de Ligt
Goal
5′ GOAL! AJAX LEAD 1-0! What a header from De Ligt. Ajax’s young captain rose highest to meet Schone’s outswinging corner, and made no mistake with a brilliant header into the bottom-right corner. What a start this is for Ajax!
4′ SAVE! What a big stop that is from Lloris! Just like in the first leg, Ajax have started well in top, and after Van de Beek sees an effort blocked, Tadic unleashes a powerful strike from the edge of Spurs’ box. It takes a deflection and is heading for the top-left corner, but Lloris makes a fantastic save to tip it wide.
2′ A late change for Ajax has seen Dolberg come in for Neres, who pulled out in the warm up. The Denmark international will start up front, with Tadic moving to the left flank.
1′ KICK-OFF! It promises to be a cracker, and the game is up and running in Amsterdam, with Spurs getting proceedings underway.
The teams are about to come out in Amsterdam, where the atmosphere is crackling with anticipation for what should be a cracking contest! A place in the final awaits one of these sides. Stick right here for all the action as it happens!
Some reports had suggested that Harry Kane would be fit enough to take his place on Spurs’ bench today, but that has proved not to be the case. Mauricio Pochettino has made two changes from the defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday, with Wanyama and Vertonghen – who was forced off with a head injury in the first leg, though tests later confirmed the Belgian international did not suffer a concussion – replacing Dier and former Ajax man Davinson Sanchez, who is injured.
TOTTENHAM SUBS: Erik Lamela, Eric Dier, Fernando Llorente, Juan Foyth, Paulo Gazzaniga, Ben Davies, Oliver Skipp.
TOTTENHAM (4-3-1-2): Hugo Lloris; Kieran Trippier, Toby Alderweireld, Danny Rose; Moussa Sissoko, Victory Wanyama, Christian Eriksen; Dele Alli; Son Heung-min, Lucas Moura.
Huntelaar scored twice in Ajax’s KNVB Beker triumph over Willem II on Sunday, but the experienced striker is one of two players to drop out of Ten Hag’s side, as he makes way for Schone. Rasmus Kristensen got the last goal in the 4-0 win, but the full-back is not even in the squad. Neres, who hit the post in the first leg, was set to come in, but he has pulled out, with Dolberg instead selected, and Mazraoui moving over to full-back.
AJAX SUBS: Joel Veltman, Daley Sinkgraven, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Lisandro Magallan, Bruno Varela, Dani de Wit.
AJAX (4-2-3-1): Andre Onana; Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, Daley Blind, Nicolas Tagliafico; Lasse Schone, Frenkie de Jong; Hakim Ziyech, Donny van de Beek, Dusan Tadic; Kasper Dolberg.
Ajax lead 1-0 on aggregate, thanks to Donny van de Beek’s strike in the first leg. Erik ten Hag’s side won the KNVB Beker on Sunday, claiming what they will hope will be the first trophy of a treble. Spurs were fortunate not to go further behind in this tie, with Ajax squandering good chances to further their advantage, but have kept themselves in with a chance heading into this clash at Johan Cruijff ArenA.
We witnessed one of the greatest ever Champions League comebacks on Tuesday, as Liverpool beat Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield to secure a 4-3 aggregate win and progress into the final. Now, it’s down to Ajax and Tottenham to take the other place, and set up what is sure to be an enthralling encounter in Madrid on June 1.
Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of the second leg of the Champions League semi-final between Ajax and Tottenham!
H. Ziyech
Goal