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Champions League | Semi-Finals
May 8, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
SL

2-3

de Ligt (5'), Ziyech (35')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Moura (55', 59', 96')

Live Commentary: Ajax 2-3 Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs through 3-3 on away goals) - as it happened

:Headline: Live Commentary: Ajax 2-3 Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs through 3-3 on away goals) - as it happened: ID:357855: from db_amp
Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of Tottenham's 3-2 win against Ajax as Spurs progressed through to the final of the Champions League on away goals.

Tottenham Hotspur scored in the 96th minute to beat Ajax 3-2 in Amsterdam and progress through to the Champions League final, where they will face Liverpool.

The Lilywhites trailed 2-0 on the night and 3-0 on aggregate when Matthijs de Ligt and Hakim Ziyech scored in the first half.

Lucas Moura took matters into his own hands in the second half, though, scoring three times - including a goal in the 96th minute - to send Tottenham through to the June 1 final in Madrid.

Relive how the incredible drama unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.

Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Champions League semi-final second leg between Ajax and Tottenham Hotspur at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Spurs have work to do in Amsterdam this evening if they are to remain on course for a final showdown with domestic rivals Liverpool, having lost the first leg 1-0 on home soil last week.

Only one of the 17 previous teams to lose the first leg at home in a Champions League or European Cup semi-final tie has progressed to the final, but the Dutch hosts are winless in three European home games so this tie is wide open at the midway stage.

AJAX TEAM NEWS!

STARTING XI: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Blind, Tagliafico; Schone, De Jong; Tadic, Van de Beek, Ziyech; Dolberg

SUBS: Varela, Veltman, Sinkgraven, Magallan, De Wit, Huntelaar

TOTTENHAM TEAM NEWS!

STARTING XI: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Wanyama, Sissoko, Alli; Eriksen; Lucas, Son

SUBS: Gazzaniga, Foyth, Davies, Dier, Skipp, Lamela, Llorente

KICKOFF:  Tottenham show two changes from their 1-0 loss at Bournemouth on Saturday, including a return to the starting XI for Vertonghen, who is showing no ill effects from the head injury that forced him off early in the first leg. Wanyama replaces Dier in the visitors' other change. As for Ajax, Schone and Neres come in for Huntelaar and Nissen from their Dutch Cup final win a few days ago.
CHANGE TO AJAX XI! Neres did not emerge out of the tunnel for the start of the game after pulling up in the warm-up. Dolberg, due to be among the subs, is promoted to the starting lineup, likely meaning a change of formation for Ten Hag's men.
Tadic has been superb through the middle in Ajax's run to the semi-finals, but he is shifted out on the wing to compensate for Dolberg's late call up to the starting lineup. Tottenham struggle to scramble the ball clear and Van de Beek's shot is blocked by Wanyama.
SAVE!  Ajax have started this second leg superbly. Top scorer Tadic works the ball on to his left boot and strikes it goalwards. The ball deflects off Trippier and Lloris is able to push it past the post.
GOAL!  AJAX 1-0 TOTTENHAM (MATTHIJS DE LIGT)
Tottenham have started the match slowly and they have been made to pay for that. It is not the route you would expect Ajax to open the scoring through, as De Ligt has the simple task of outjumping Alli six yards from goal to send a header past Lloris. There is a quick VAR check for a shove in the box but the goal stands.

OFF THE POST!  Almost an instant response for Tottenham as Son hits the inside of the post with his shot. This match is panning out in a similar manner to the Lilywhites' quarter-final second leg against Manchester City last month. Fingers crossed it continues this way!
STAT! Spurs have conceded seven goals in the opening 15 minutes of matches in the Champions League this season - the most of any side. Pochettino's men were penned in early on, barely managing to get their foot on the ball before De Ligt headed in.
Spurs have been a lot brighter over the last five minutes. Alli is picked out inside the box and curls the ball wide of the target, but he was flagged for offside and the goal would not have stood had it gone in. Tottenham need two goals to avoid crashing out.
There is an incredible atmosphere inside the Johan Cruyff Arena. Ajax were always expected to score tonight - the question is whether they can keep their opponents out over the remaining 75 minutes. Spurs require a couple of goals, but they have showed already in this season's competition that they know where the net is.
Possession has been split 50-50 down the middle so far. There has been very little between the teams since De Ligt opened the scoring early on, though the onus is of course on Tottenham to find the next goal of the tie. The visitors have finally settled in.
YELLOW CARD!  Sissoko catches a grounded Tagliafico with his studs and is shown the game's first yellow card by referee Felix Brych.
Ajax are starting to get a grip on the game, passing the ball around higher up the pitch. The hosts are in the perfect position, really, not having to force the goal thanks to De Ligt's early header. A lot of the game is being played in midfield.
Ajax have never lost a Champions League game in which they have taken the lead, a record spanning 55 previous matches. Tottenham hit the post moments after falling behind, but that aside they have not offered a great deal in the final third.
SAVE!  Sissoko wins the ball back for his side and plays it into the feet of Son, who cuts inside and has a shot blocked by Blind. Spurs then cut their opponents open for a second time as Alli's pass is controlled by Son, but Onana makes a low save.
SAVE!  Onana has a second save to make in the space of a minute or so as he stands firm to keep out Eriksen's shot following some good play from Alli and Lucas. Tottenham are enjoying their best spell of the tie - they need to make this pressure count.
Spurs' two shots on target, through Son and Eriksen in the space of a minute or so, is one more than they managed in the entire first leg. Ajax have dropped off quite a bit over the last 10 minutes, inviting pressure onto themselves.
Pochettino will be a lot happier with his side's performance in the last 10 minutes. Spurs have been pretty dominant and have tested Onana twice in that period. Lucas pulls the trigger from range after a corner is only half-cleared, but the attempt is well off target.
Tottenham need to show a little more attacking edge to their game if they are to find a route back into this semi-final tie. A goal for Pochettino's men will change the feel of the contest entirely - until they score it Ajax can continue doing what they are doing.
CLOSE!  Wanyama gives the ball away in midfield and within about five seconds Tadic is firing a shot across the face of goal after being forced down the outside by Vertonghen. The Tottenham midfielder felt he was fouled and he is in need of some treatment.
Despite their opponents being on top for the majority of the match, Ajax boss Ten Hag will be more than happy if the games continues to pan out in this manner. Tottenham, who need to score twice in the remaining 55 minutes, do not have much in terms of end product.
GOAL!  AJAX 2-0 TOTTENHAM (HAKIM ZIYECH)
What a strike this is from Ziyech to all but kill off the tie! Tadic holds the ball up towards the left for a couple of seconds and plays it into the path of Ziyech, who sends his shot from 15 yards spinning away from Lloris into the far side of the net.

STAT! Ziyech has scored or assisted a goal in five of Ajax's six Champions League knockout games this season (three goals, two assists). The hosts appear to be cruising towards a first final appearance this millennium. Tottenham require three goals with just over half of the game to play.
It is looking like curtains for Tottenham as, a couple of tame on-target attempts aside, they have not offered enough in Amsterdam. Pochettino will surely make a change at the break in a desperate attempt to find a route back into the game. A cross from the left is overhit and Lucas cannot meet it.
Tottenham have options in the box but a poor touch from Son 18 yards out sees the attack come to an end. The visitors are once again back in control of the match, but that is mainly because Ajax are happy for them to knock the ball around.
Ziyech sends the ball towards the back post, where De Ligt is waiting. Wanyama does enough to thwart the young centre-back, albeit at the expense of a corner. The set-piece is worked short and is cleared once it arrives in the penalty area.
HALF TIME IN EXTRA TIME:  AJAX 2-0 TOTTENHAM (3-0 ON AGGREGATE)
Ajax take a two-goal lead on the night into half time, and a 3-0 advantage on aggregate, leaving Tottenham with an almighty task on their hands in the remaining 45 minutes. De Ligt opened the scoring five minutes in and Ziyech's second all but killed off the tie half an hour later.
Ajax were dealt a blow shortly before kickoff as key attacker David Neres pulled up in the warm-up and had to be replaced by Kasper Dolberg, forcing Erik ten Hag to tweak formation slightly.

That setback clearly did not faze the hosts as they tested Hugo Lloris through a Dusan Tadic shot four minutes in and took the lead a minute later from the resulting corner - Matthijs de Ligt getting away from Kieran Trippier and then outjumping Dele Alli to head the ball home.

Tottenham initially responded well to that early goal as Son Heung-min hit the post with the angle against him, before testing Andre Onana with a shot from inside the box.

Christian Eriksen was then denied by Onana 60 seconds later to equal the number of on-target attempts Spurs managed in the entire first leg.

Spurs did not manage a single effort of any sort in the final 15 minutes of the first half, however, and Ajax made the most of their one big opportunity as Hakim Ziyech sent his shot spinning away from Hugo Lloris into the far corner once teed up by Tadic 15 yards from goal.

AJAX SUBS: Varela, Veltman, Sinkgraven, Magallan, De Wit, Huntelaar

TOTTENHAM SUBS: Gazzaniga, Foyth, Davies, Dier, Skipp, Lamela, Llorente

KICKOFF:  We are back underway in Amsterdam! There is news of a change for the start of the second half as Llorente replaces Wanyama. Tottenham's players emerged a good couple of minutes before their opponents.
Half-time sub Llorente very nearly picks out Alli but De Ligt gets something to the ball first to concede a corner. Eriksen swings it in but it comes to little. Tottenham need to score in the next 10 minutes if they are to pull off the unthinkable.
Rose does well to carry the ball forward down the right but his cross is dealt with by De Ligt. There is just no end product for Tottenham, who have not made the most of Llorente's height in the box since the Spanish striker was introduced.
YELLOW CARD!  Dolberg, a late addition to Ajax's starting lineup, is cautioned for a foul on Rose. Tottenham are seeing plenty of the ball but there is just no way in behind the home defence. The Dutch side are looking pretty comfortable.
A cross into the box hits De Ligt and goes behind for another corner, which Eriksen swings into the near post. It is cleared away and Rose concedes a free kick. Ajax skipper De Ligt urges his teammates to push up the field.
SAVE!  Onana is finally forced into making a save - his first one since the opening 25 minutes. Eriksen's cross drops a little awkwardly but Alli still makes good contact with his shot from the angle, which Onana does well to turn behind.
GOAL!  AJAX 2-1 TOTTENHAM (LUCAS MOURA)
Tottenham are back in the tie! Ajax have sat off far too much and they are punished. Alli carries the ball through the middle and Lucas takes over inside the box, tucking the ball out of Onana's reach into the bottom right corner. Great finish from 12 yards!

GOAL!  AJAX 2-2 TOTTENHAM (LUCAS MOURA)
SURELY NOT?! Lucas doubles his tally and all of a sudden Tottenham are level on the night - they now require just one more goal to progress through! Onana produces a superb save to keep out Llorente from close range. Schone makes a mess of the clearance and Lucas shows great composure to pick out the bottom corner after creating some space for himself.
AJAX SUB! Spurs now have around half an hour to score a goal that will take them through to the Champions League final. It is a scenario they probably would have accepted before the match and it is definitely one they would have taken 10 minutes ago. Veltman is on for Schone.
Ajax are crumbling. The hosts are really struggling to keep hold of the ball and Llorente almost capitalises, only to send his shot off target. Ten Hag's side show signs of revival as Blind comes close with his effort.
CLOSE!  Tadic tees up Ziyech near the penalty spot in a carbon to Ajax's second goal, but on the occasion the shot skims inches wide of the target. Spurs come forward and Lucas's shot is brilliantly blocked by De Ligt. What a match this has turned into!
AJAX SUB! Ten Hag needed to change things around and he has done exactly that by bringing on Sinkgraven for Dolberg. All the momentum is on Tottenham's side - they have about 25 minutes to score another goal. This year's Champions League will go down in history.
Ten Hag's men are desperately attempting to take the sting out of the game - good luck with that. There is a coming together between Alli and Ziyech but the referee gets things under control. Tottenham need to rebuild some momentum.
Lloris punches clear a driven cross and the ball comes back in from the right. Lloris again gets down low and thankfully for him there is nobody waiting to convert the loose ball from six yards. Ajax are back on top all of a sudden.
Tottenham have not made the most of set-pieces tonight but this one was a lot better from Trippier. Alderweireld gets on the end of it but he cannot keep his header on target. Pochettino may well be thinking about making a change as the final 15 minutes approach.
YELLOW CARD!  Ajax have yet to have a shot on target in the second half. Rose is cautioned for punching the ball into the ground after a decision went against him - needless, to say the least. Felix Brych then cautions Ziyech for going in hard on Rose.
OFF THE POST!  Ziyech is given time to take a touch on the edge of the box and he sends a well-hit shot against the post. The ball could easily have dropped to an Ajax player from the rebound but instead it goes clear. Whisper it quietly, but this is shaping up to be a famous night for Spurs. They have about 15 minutes to find a goal.
Pochettino is clearly happy to gamble in these final 10 minutes - and why not! Lamela is on for Trippier as the visitors chuck on an attacker for a defender. The ball bounces around in the Ajax box but the hosts eventually clear it.
TOTTENHAM SUB! Rose, who is looking tired and is on a booking, is replaced by Davies in a like-for-like change at left wing-back. Tottenham have fresh opens down the flanks - can they make it count? Ajax could do with the full-time whistle.
Lucas wins the ball back for his side and pulls it back for Llorente, who is pounced on by three opposition players before he can shoot. Davies, only just brought on, is penalised for a foul on Ziyech. There is still plenty of time for Tottenham to find what would be one of the most famous goals in their history.
OFF THE BAR!  INCREDIBLE DRAMA!!!! Vertonghen meets a looping cross and sends it back against the crossbar from five yards. The centre-back gets on the end of the rebound but it strikes Veltman on the line. How close can you come without scoring!
Tadic barges into Alli and Tottenham have a free kick right on the half-way line. Eriksen opts against launching it and instead the ball is played short. Davies tries to pick out Llorente but Ajax clear the ball. The hosts do not look as though they will hold on.
AJAX SUB! Magallan is on for Van de Beek in the final change of the evening. Ajax are five minutes away from reaching their first Champions League final in 23 years. Tottenham have four minutes to change that and reach the final for the first time.
Alderweireld covers plenty of ground to get back and make a block to prevent De Jong from killing off the match for good. Two minutes of the five added on have been played. Ajax have the ball where they want - inside the Tottenham half.
SAVE!  Ziyech gets the better of Vertonghen and thinks he has done enough to find the net with his shot, but Lloris produces a great save. How big will that stop prove to be? There are only 60 seconds left to go - the Spurs dream is surely over.
Tottenham win a corner and send Lloris up for it. Llorente is the man who gets on the end of Eriksen's cross but he gets under the ball and sends it over the crossbar. Ajax are seconds away from a place in the final.
GOAL!  AJAX 2-3 TOTTENHAM (LUCAS MOURA)
OH MY WORD!!!!!!!!!!!! You cannot write these scripts!! Tottenham Hotspur have scored in the sixth minute of added time to book a place in the Champions League final. Lucas turns 15 yards from goal and picks out the bottom corner of the net.

Does this top Liverpool's win from last night? I'll leave that for others to decide. Ajax are allowed to take the kick off but the referee will surely blow his whistle in the next 20 seconds or so...
FULL TIME:  AJAX 2-3 TOTTENHAM (3-3 ON AGGREGATE, SPURS THROUGH ON AWAY GOALS)
TOTTENHAM ARE THROUGH TO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL!!
Three second-half goals from Lucas, the winner coming in the 96th minute, sends Tottenham through to the Champions League final at Ajax's expense. It was a semi-final that will go down in history - truly incredible drama.

That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from Amsterdam. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, and be sure to stick around for reaction from the Tottenham camp.

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