TWO of Europe’s most historically successful clubs played out a stalemate in the Champions League.
Ajax took the lead through Dusan Tadic before the hosts equalised with a Sebastian Haller own goal.
But Haller then netted at the right end to put the champions of Holland back in front.
However, Roman Yaremchuk headed in an equaliser for Benfica with 20 minutes left.
The Ukrainian star then revealed a shirt with his country’s coat of arms, and was booked for it.
FT: Benfica 2-2 Ajax
With two free-scoring teams facing each other today we were always going to be guaranteed goals.
It was definitely a game of two-halves with Ajax looking capable of opening up Benfica at will in the first 45 minutes.
The Eagles came out with some passion after a team-talk from Nelson Verissimo and the Dutch were made to pay for not killing the game off when they had control.
FT: Benfica 2-2 Ajax
The referee brings the game to an end.
Probably a fair result over the 90 minutes with Benfica really coming out in the second-half and taking control of the game.
Some of the refereeing decisions may have impacted the game but it is now over to Antony or Nunez to make a difference in the return leg and take advantage of being eligible to play.
Benfica 2-2 Ajax – Antony chance!
90+2. The corner comes in and is headed clear but only to the feet of Antony on the edge of the box.
He takes one touch and looks to find the top corner.
The keeper saves at full-stretch.
Benfica 2-2 Ajax
90. We will have four minutes of additional time.
Ajax are on the attack.
Vertonghen heads it out for a corner.
Benfica 2-2 Ajax
88. It would be ironic if Nunez happens to win Benfica the game when it comes to the second leg in Amsterdam.
I am sure there would be some very disgruntled Dutch fans.
The referee has now stopped the game for cramp.
New levels being reached today in officiating.
Benfica 2-2 Ajax
86. VAR and the competency of officials is brought into question again here as Antony receives a yellow card for trying to headbutt Nunez.
Am all for keeping eleven players on the pitch but I cannot fathom how that was not a red.
VAR remains silent.
Benfica 2-2 Ajax
84. Taraabt is substituted for Bernardo.
Such a talent but often seems to fail to deliver.
Benfica 2-2 Ajax
82. Seeing the replay for the Benfica equaliser, the Ajax keeper will not want to see that again.
A good shot yes, a good hand by the keeper but he committed the cardinal sin, palming the ball back into the danger area.
An easy finish for Miranchuk.
Benfica 2-2 Ajax
80. Big ten minutes for the home team here.
They have been second best to Ajax in the first half but have looked a different team in the second-half.
Benfica 2-2 Ajax
77. Nunez is conducting the fans now and trying to get them to eb the twelfth man here.
Ajax are looking exposed now and frail defensively for the first time this evening.
Benfica are pushing on for a winning goal.
Benfica 2-2 Ajax
75. Darwin Nunez is causing all sorts of problems for Ajax.
Again he gets to the byline and looks to square it to a Benfica player but Timber slides in and blocks it for a corner.
The cross comes in but is wasted and gifts possession back to Ajax.
Benfica 2-2 Ajax
74. VAR was actually checking as to whether Ajax should have had a penalty in the build-up that led to the Benfica goal.
I think the referee would have needed security to leave the pitch had he disallowed the home team’s goal to award the opposition a penalty.
Benfica 2-2 Ajax
72. Ramos shoots from outside the box and Pasveer makes a one-handed save.
He palms it into the air and Miranchuk slots home the rebound.
Estadio Da Luz erupts!
Goal – Miranchuk equalises for Benfica!
Benfica 1-2 Ajax
69. Otamendi is penalised for the foul.
Big chance there for Miranchuk but it was cleared from heading towards the goal as he went around the keeper.
Benfica 1-2 Ajax
67. As the game goes on, the need for Benfica to find a goal grows.
This opens them up to the counter-attack from Ajax.
The Eagles are snatching at their chances in this second-half.
They need to work the goalkeeper at the very least.
Benfica 1-2 Ajax
65. Benfica try to create something with patient build-up play out wide.
They manage to fashion a chance but the Ajax defender blocks it and the ball goes for a corner.
Ramos goes down as the cross comes in looking for a penalty.
He has gone down very easily there.
Benfica 1-2 Ajax
62. Antony has shown some quick feet down the right-wing tonight.
The ball is played to the back post to Mazraoui whose shot is saved by the keeper well.
The linesman puts his flag up for offside.
The replay shows he wasn’t and VAR would have allowed the goal.
This linesman is having a shocker tonight.
Benfica 1-2 Ajax – Benfica chance!
59. Silva does brilliantly down the right-hand side and fizzes a ball in across the Ajax penalty area.
No Benfica player can get a touch on it and you wonder whether he would have been better off going alone.
The home fans have their heads in their hands.
Benfica 1-2 Ajax
57. Gravenberch gets the ball from a neat pass from Tadic.
He doesn’t get the ball under his spell and it goes out for a Benfica goal kick.
That was a decent chance wasted there.
Benfica 1-2 Ajax – Benfica go close!
55. On the edge of the box Everton gets a shot away which deflects and wrong foots the Ajax keeper.
He can only look from the floor as the ball goes inches pass his post.
Benfica 1-2 Ajax – Chance for Tadic
53. Great ball by Tadic down the left wing with a no-look pass.
Haller sets off, cuts inside and sets up a chance before the linesman belatedly blows his whistle for offside.
The replay shows he wasn’t offside at all.
Benfica 1-2 Ajax
51. Quite often the home side are their worst enemies.
If you cannot retain possession, you make the game of football a very difficult one at times.
This time Nunez gets down the left and tries to get a cross in but the ball is blocked for a Benfica corner.
Daley Blind heads clear, not for the first time this evening.
Benfica 1-2 Ajax
49. Discipline will be key in this half for The Eagles.
They have a lot of players on yellow cards who if they receive another will miss the return leg in Holland.
Benfica 1-2 Ajax
47. Benfica breaks out with Ramos who finds Everton down the right wing.
Not a brilliant ball to the player but he really cannot do anything with it.
Ramos receives a yellow card for a challenge on Timber.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
