AEK outclassed by Ajax in Amsterdam
AEK outclassed by Ajax in Amsterdam
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 1
AEK suffered disappointment in their Champions League opener against Ajax on Wednesday as the SuperLeague champions were beaten soundly 3-0 at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam.
Two goals from Argentine defender Nicolás Tagliafico and a strike from second half substitute Donny van de Beek sealed what was a deserved victory for Erik ten Hag’s side, who simply had too much quality for their Group E rivals.
Marinos Ouzounidis’ Kitrinomavri battled manfully throughout in their return to the group stage for the first time since 2006, and were by no means disgraced against their superior Dutch opponents, also threatening sporadically through the likes of Petros Mantalos, Andre Simoes and Ezequiel Ponce.
AEK next face Portuguese giants Benfica at the Olympic Stadium in Athens in their next match on October 2 when they will hope to win their first points of the campaign.
Ajax dominated a first half of few clear-cut chances, with Simoes heading wide from AEK's best opening. And after all their good work in the first half, AEK were undone by a lapse of concentration right at the start of the second half.
Barely a minute had been played before a corner was only cleared as far as Brazilian midfielder David Neres, who floated a beautiful ball back in which was guided home by Tagliafico, who arrived right on cue.
Barkas kept AEK in with a fighting chance with a superb reflex save after 58 minutes as the home side looked to end the match as a contest. It was Tagliafico again who found himself a yard of space in the box, with his header was brilliantly saved by a sprawling Barkas.
Another big chance for Tagliafico, who again finds himself free in the area after a corner, but this time his effort is well saved by Barkas.
Ponce misfired with an overhead kick after 68 minutes when he controlled a precise Mantalos close and had more time than he realized.
The visitors began to make headway towards the Ajax goal as the half wore on, but just as it seemed that an AEK goal might be in the offing, a lightning quick forward thrust brought the home side their second goal.
Serbian forward Dusan Tadić was the architect, sending over a fantastic cross was was rammed home emphatically by substitute Van de Beek from close range.
To their credit AEK continued to try and push forward, but as the lock ticked down their were celebratory scenes among the banks of Ajax fans in the last minute when Tagliafico scored with what looked like a fluke strike.
The Ajax defender raced clear down the left channel on to a long ball and his attempted cross flew over the surprised Barkas, who was caught out by the unexpected flight of the ball, and into the net to round off a tough night for the Greeks.
by Graham Wood
Image Source: sdna.gr
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