They did it. They actually did it.
The young upstart Ajax team went to Turin to take on Italian giants Juventus, and they knocked them out of the Champions League.
The final score was 2-1 thanks to goals from 19-year-old Matthijs de Ligt and 21-year-old Donny van de Beek, and a massive, historic win for Ajax who were able to overcome an early Cristiano Ronaldo headed goal off a corner kick to advance.
It’s a massive statement from the Dutch club, who are having a renaissance amidst a boom of young talent. Much of that talent will soon move on to bigger clubs, but for now, they’re making a charge to the Champions League final. This is so fun.
Highlights
28′ – GOAL RONALDO. JUVENTUS 1 – 0 AJAX (2-1)
Juventus earn the corner, run a well designed pick play to get Ronaldo into space, and Ajax has no one near him. It’s like Ronaldo felt Messi scoring two goals in the other game and wanted to get in on the action.
He won’t score many easier ones than that.
34′ – AJAX EQUALIZES. JUVENTUS 1-1 AJAX (2-2)
We’re all tied up in Turin. Juventus can’t protect a lead again and Ajax has it all to play for with less than an hour to play.
A weird bit of play leads to the ball ending up at the feet of Donny van de Beek, who calmly slots home.
67′ – GOAL DE LIGT. JUVENTUS 1-2 AJAX (2-3)
Oh man oh man oh man, the Dutch side has taken the lead against the giants of Italy. Nineteen-year-old (!) Matthijs de Ligt rises above the crowd on a corner kick and heads home to give Ajax the lead in the match, and on aggregate, and the Juventus crowd is absolutely stunned.
