'Breath of fresh air': Spirited Ajax strike back for well-deserved UCL draw with Ronaldo's Juventus
A typically assured Cristiano Ronaldo header wasn't enough to see off a talented Ajax side, as they showed the Italian champions that they won't be pushovers in The Old Lady's pursuit of their first Champions League in 26 years.
Ronaldo's sensational strike on the cusp of halftime - his 23rd Champions League headed goal and the 97th of his career - gave Juventus an unlikely lead after a youthful Ajax side had bossed the majority of the game's opening stanza.
Joao Cancelo's driving run down the right flank saw him loft a perfectly measured center to his compatriot Ronaldo who emphasized his status as one of the game's best finishers, ruthlessly powering the ball past the clutches of Andre Onana.
Also on rt.com 'The best leap in football': Cristiano Ronaldo stuns Ajax with 23rd headed Champions League goalThe goal, and particularly its timing, was a gut-punch to the home support inside the Johan Cruijff ArenA but the home faithful didn't have to wait long to level proceedings as Juventus' first touch of the second half was goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny picking the ball out of his own net.
Straight from kick-off after the break, David Neres worked his way down the left and caused havoc in the Juventus rearguard before cutting inside and bending a shot into the right corner of the net. It was no more than Ajax deserved.
Juventus, clearly noting their difficulties in dealing with the attacking talents of Neres, Hasim Ziyech and Dusan Tadic, retreated from that point on which afforded the Amsterdam side less space.
Still though, Ziyech went close and teenage academy graduate Jurgen Ekkelenkamp poke a shot wide from 12 yards.
A late Douglas Costa surge saw him thunder a strike against the post but in truth Juventus rarely looked close to scoring a second away goal, while Ajax will go to Turin in need of a goal but - on today's evidence at least - in full knowledge that they can do just that.
Ajax delivered some beautiful football tonight, Juve barely had a chance, it's still hard to tell what would happen in the second leg 😬 I like Ronaldo but I'm kind of rooting for Ajax now #AjaxJuve
— EGOIST (@_egoistlily) April 10, 2019
Daley Blind was the only outfield Ajax player that did *not* have a shot vs. Juventus:7 x Ziyech3 x Veltman2 x Scöne1 x Ekkelenkamp1 x Van de Beek1 x Tagliafico1 x De Jong1 x De Ligt1 x Neres1 x Tadić😱 pic.twitter.com/T0R7YHnfRJ
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 10, 2019
Ajax have out played Bayern Madrid Juventus...
— nigel blair (@kingblair88) April 10, 2019
Giving up just one goal, without Chiellini and being under that kind of pressure from Ajax for a good portion of the night seems like a complete win in my book. But then again, I'm usually optimistic so you never really know.
— BWRAO (@JuventusNation) April 10, 2019
⭐ Cristiano Ronaldo – last 6️⃣ CL quarter-final appearances⚽⚽⚽ v Wolfsburg⚽⚽ v Bayern⚽⚽⚽ v Bayern⚽⚽ v Juventus⚽ v Juventus⚽ v AjaxRonaldo has scored 2️⃣4️⃣ CL quarter-final goals, 14 more than the next highest players, Messi & Raul (both 10) pic.twitter.com/NsMzujkvxj
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) April 10, 2019
The goals Ronaldo was supposed to score for Madrid against Ajax, he's there scoring it for Juventus Inside life 😂
— Mr Sam (@XammyOfficial) April 10, 2019
This @AFCAjax is my favorite team since Sarri’s Napoli- so impressed with what I saw tonight. They play in a way that pays respect to the club’s historical tenants- respect
— David Amoyal (@DavidAmoyal) April 10, 2019
Regardless of how the 2nd leg ends, Ajax deserves a round of applause. Their CL journey is sensational. Benfica and Bayern in the group, eliminates Real and 1-1 in the first leg vs. Juve. The fact that they're doing it comfortably, with such young players is even more remarkable.
— Maxi (@MaaxiAngelo) April 10, 2019
Whatever happens in the second leg, Ajax have been a breath of fresh air in the Champions League this season.
— John Bennett (@JohnBennettBBC) April 10, 2019
