Ajax too strong for APOEL
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - PLAYOFFS (LEG 2)
APOEL have been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League following a 2-0 loss to Dutch giants Ajax in the second leg of the playoff round in Amsterdam.
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APOEL made the trip to Amsterdam with realistic hope after drawing the first leg 0-0 in Nicosia. However, two goals from Edson Alvarez and Dusan Tadic - one in each half - did the job for Ajax, as APOEL failed to create any kind of attacking traction.
Unlike the first match in Cyprus, the Cypriot champions were focused on only mass defending while ignoring the offensive side of the game, and Ajax eventually managed to break through. Nevertheless, despite the loss, APOEL showed plenty of effort and will continue their European campaign in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League. The draw for the Europa League group phase will take place on Friday afternoon.
THE MATCH
The game started as expected; Ajax calmly controlled possession with Thomas Doll’s players parking the bus in an effort to prevent the Dutch side from reaching Vid Belec’s posts. In the 10th minute, Belec stopped a dangerous ball from Hakim Ziyech trying to find Klaas Jan Huntelaar. The Slovenian keeper was ready again stopping efforts from Dusan Tadic and Ziyech.
APOEL were unable to find ways to go forward, but Ajax continued pressing with intensity. After a foul from Giorgos Merkis on the edge of the penalty area, Ziyech unleashed a dangerous attempt at goal, and Belec expertly tipped it around the posts for a corner.
The hosts did make the breakthrough on the brink of half time. Connecting with a wonderful free-kick from Ziyech, Edson Alvarez headed past Belec to give Ajax the lead they felt they deserved.
Ajax started the second half in the same vein. Moments after the break, Huntelaar thought he had doubled Ajax’s advantage at point blank range, but the Video Assistant Referee system came to APOEL’s rescue as it was determined that Joel Veltman was offside in the build-up.
Andrija Pavlovic then found the back of the Ajax net with a header, but three APOEL players were caught offside and the goal was rightly disallowed.
The Dutch came knocking in the 58th minute as Ziyech brilliantly danced through APOEL’s defence, but it was Belec who conjured up a superb save.. Seven minutes later it was Huntelaar’s turn to be denied by Belec.
With a mere 10 minutes remaining, Ajax scored the second goal which had long been coming, as Tadic swept a fantastic effort beyond the in-form APOEL goalkeeper into the far right corner. A goal which well and truly ended the tie.
TEAMS
Ajax (Erik Ten Hag): Andre Onana(GK), Joel Veltman, Edson Alvarez, Sergino Dest, Nicolas Tagliafico, Lisandro Martinez, Hakim Ziyech, Daley Blind, David Neres, Dusan Tadic (C), Klaas Jan Huntelaar
APOEL (Thomas Doll): Vid Belec (GK), Giorgos Merkis, Nikolas Ioannou (C), Joaozinho, Dragan Mihajlovic, Uros Matic, Lucas Souza, Antonio Jakolis, Musa Al-Tamari, Roman Bezjak, Andrija Pavlovic
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