Ajax 0-1 Chelsea, more about the game
Ajax welcomed Chelsea to the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam for their third UEFA Champions League game after beating Lille and Valencia in their first and second Champions League games respectively. On the side of Chelsea, they had won one and drew one before today’s game.
Frank Lampard gave Hudson Odoi his first Champions League start after the youngster showed a very impressive display that won him man of the match award against Newcastle in the Premier League at last Saturday whiles Mateo Kovacic returned to the starting lineup after missing in Lampard’s eleven against Lille in France. The Croatian played along with Jorginho and Mason Mount in a three man mid-field.
The game looked fairly and a balanced contest between Ajax and Chelsea in the first 20 minutes, but Ajax took center stage and controlled the game till the end of the first half. However, the best of chances in the first 30 minutes fell into the way of Chelsea as first, Mount’s well calculated shot inside Ajax box forced Andre Onana to make a diving save on the 15’ minute after the young English had exchanged a pass with Marcos Alonso at the left edge of Ajax penalty box.
The second chance fell into the path of Odoi when it was 26 minutes on the clock after Ziyech’s weak header inside his penalty box went straight onto the favorite right foot of the Odoi but from a good scoring position, he shot wide his near post.
Ajax took the lead on the 35th minute through Quincy Promise after sliding and tapping in a ball crossed from the right flank but Promise goal was disallowed by the VAR. The technology judged that Promes’s toenail was offside before he slid in with a leg outstretched to poke home the delivery from Ziyech.
Ajax came very close of scoring again on the 62’ minute as Donny van der Beek corner delivers to perfection. Edson Alvarez hits the post with a diving header at the near post, that fizzes across the face of goal and hits the far one.
Michy Batshuayi got the only goal of the game for Chelsea when the Belgian connected a low cross from Christian Pulisic on the 86’ minutes. All Credits to the American boy as he skipped past his maker in a step over fashion before sending in a low cross for Batshuayi to finish into the roof top.
Chelsea are now placed second in Group H with six points from a possible of nine. Ajax are on top of the table with 6 points, two more points above third place Valencia who drew 1-1 against Lille in France.
