Ajax drew 2-2 against Benfica in the first leg of the 2021/2022 Champions League last 16 at the Lisboa Stadium, Wednesday (23/2).
In the fifth minute, Benfica had a chance through Jan Vertonghen’s header which could still be secured by Ajax goalkeeper Remko Pasveer.
In the 18th minute, Ajax won 1-0 through Dusan Tadic’s goal after continuing Noussair Mazraoui’s pass.
This goal came from an error by Benfica goalkeeper Odisseas Vlachodimos in releasing a pass so that it was captured by Mazraoui. Then, Mazraoui crossed from the right for a freestanding Tadic to score.
Without exercising control, Tadic immediately released a half-volley that successfully ripped the Ajax goal.
In the 25th minute, Benfica got a chance through Rafa Silva who fired a shot from the left side of the Ajax goal.
Luckily the ball which had failed to be pushed over perfectly by the Ajax goalkeeper did not enter his own goal and only produced a corner kick.
But, one minute later the Ajax goal could not avoid being conceded through an own goal by Sebastian Haller.
Ajax’s Haller looked shocked when he received a hard kick from Benfica’s Jan Vertonghen. He also failed to control the ball perfectly so the ball went into his own goal.
However, in the 29th minute Ajax regained a 2-1 lead through Sebastian Haller’s goal. Haller managed to take advantage of the rebound from the Benfica goalkeeper to score Ajax’s second goal.
This goal at the same time pays off his own goal debt which he made into his own goal in the 25th minute.
In the 40th minute, Mazraoui also almost added to Ajax’s advantage after his hard shot went straight into the arms of the Benfica goalkeeper.
In the 45th minute, Ajax got another chance through Edson Alarez’s kick which hit the Benfica goal post. Haller who got the rebound also failed to add a goal after his shot went off the mark.
Ajax managed to close the first half match with a 1-0 advantage over Benfica.
In the second half, Benfica tried to increase the intensity of the attack. In the 55th minute, Benfica got a chance that threatened the Ajax goal when Everton’s hard kick had changed direction because it was hit by Rafa Silva’s leg.
However, the ball that had outwitted the Ajax goalkeeper was still slightly off the left side of the opponent’s goal.
In the 71st minute, Benfica were finally able to score a 2-2 equalizer through Roman Yaremchuk’s goal after continuing the rebound from Gonzalo Ramos’ hard kick from the middle of the field which was blocked by the Ajax goalkeeper.
There were no additional goals until the second half ended. Benfica drew 2-2 against Ajax.
