Striker Darwin Nunez headed dwelling a 77th-minute winner as Benfica grabbed a shock 1-0 victory away at Ajax Amsterdam on Tuesday to gather a shock Champions League quarter-final pickle.
The Uruguayan striker rose above the Ajax defence to ranking from a free kick in a rare attack for the Portuguese membership, who keep up a spacious defensive efficiency at the Johan Cruyff Arena to come 3-2 on aggregate.
Benfica’s worn centre serve pair of Jan Vertonghen and Nicolas Otamendi were a defensive wall that Ajax were unable to interrupt down, despite dominating possession and constantly attacking the company’ design.
#AJASLB #UCL #WeAreBenfica pic.twitter.com/fZzualIaZc
— SL Benfica (@slbenfica_en) March 16, 2022
The Dutch membership had won all their community video games and, after a 2-2 draw within the first leg of the closing-16 tie in Lisbon closing month, were anticipated to ease thru to the closing eight with dwelling advantage within the 2d leg.
But their hopes of an prolonged poke within the Champions League were introduced to a unexpected finish by Benfica, who hold had a abominable home season and flounder 12 aspects from the summit of the Portuguese league.
O golo de @DarwinN99 visto da bancada. (Vídeo: @HugoAlves_1904) pic.twitter.com/W3Fwv1jpKh
— Recordsdata Just – SL Benfica (@InformGlorious2) March 15, 2022
Ajax peppered the Benfica design within the first half at the finish of swift beget-united statesand a pair of crosses into the penalty residence, but obtained few of their efforts heading within the correct direction.
Teen Ryan Gravenberch created an opening for himself with a grand poke but fired his 36th-minute shot honest correct over the crossbar in essentially the most efficient effort of the outlet duration.
Ajax kept up the tension within the 2d half with Brazilian winger Antony having two factual prospects. He keep a header wide and was then foiled by a late Vertonghen kind out.
Benfica’s one strive heading within the correct direction came after Ajax defender Edson Alvarez conceded a comfortable free-kick. Nunez rose excessive above Jurrien Bushes and the on-speeding goalkeeper Andre Onana from the space-portion to stun the residence crowd.
The smile of our Man of the Match!!!#AJASLB #UCL #WeAreBenfica pic.twitter.com/iJKG7XbG6B
— SL Benfica (@slbenfica_en) March 15, 2022
“Clearly I am very comfortable. It was a actually hard recreation, we knew all of us needed to poke when it came time to protect and attack,” Nunez educated newshounds.
“We played in opposition to a crew that performs very well, we knew we were going to endure, we suffered, we needed to protect but our crew gave every little thing,” he added.
Ajax will hold equalised deep in stoppage time but Benfica goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos pulled off a amazing discontinuance to disclaim Brian Brobbey, although the Ajax substitute was then dominated offside.
Elimination was a bitter blow stated dwelling captain Dusan Tadic.
“We stopped all their efforts to counter-attack and then we lose from a free-kick … We did not deserve to lose. We were the better crew, but in Europe it’s additionally about space pieces and counters. Then the sort of 2d might perchance presumably additionally be lethal.”
