VAR helps Madrid snatch victory against Ajax
REAL Madrid needed a late winner from Marco Asensio (pictured, AFP) and VAR’s debut i n the Champions League to beat a spirited Ajax 2-1 in the first leg of the last 16 on Wednesday.
Ajax have not beaten Madrid in 24 years and thought they were on their way at the Johan Cruyff Arena when Nicolas Tagliafico headed home after a Thibaut Courtois error.
But referee Damir Skomina judged Dusan Tadic to be offside upon review and Madrid showed no pity on their youthful opponents, Karim Benzema and Asensio scoring two precious away goals in the second half.
Hakim Ziyech’s equaliser at lea st keeps Aja x i n touch heading into the second leg at t he Sa nt iago Ber nabeu but Asensio’s 87t h-minute winner was a sucker-punch in a match t he Dutch tea m had largely dominated.
VAR has been introduced to the Champions League for the first time in this year’s knockout stages and leaflets were distributed to the media before kick-off, one of the points explaining how reviews should only be for “clear and obvious mistakes”.
UEFA later tweeted Ajax’s goal was “correctly overturned for offside” but Tadic’s intervention on Courtois was minimal and it seemed generous to deem it enough for a call to be reversed.
Gareth Bale was reinstated to the Madrid starting line-up but there was no place for Marcelo, who missed his first Champions League knock-out game in four years.
Ajax fans had put on an impressive display of fireworks late on Tuesday night outside the Spanish team’s hotel and perhaps it paid off because a drowsy Madrid were run ragged in the first half.
The best opportunity fell to the excellent Donny van de Beek, after the ball was shifted along the line like a rugby move until the midfielder was left spare six yards out. Courtois saved with his legs.
Hero one minute, villain the next, Courtois then fumbled De Ligt’s header from the corner and Tagliafico headed in. There was no protest from Courtois but Skomina pointed to his earpiece. Tadic, who had brushed past the Belgian as the header looped in, was ruled offside.
The crowd owd jeered at half-time me and Benzema compounded ompounded t hei r miser y soon after. It was a goal t o s u m u p Madrid’s s resurg e n c e i n r e c e n t weeks as
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M o d r i c f licked a ba l l for Vinicius s Junior to race after. He tore past one, jinked inside nside two more and teed up Benzema, who found the top corner.
Ajax refused efused to fade. David Neres and Tadic both went close before Neres skipped free down the left and crossed for Ziyech to slide in the equaliser. Madrid wanted a f freekick for a foul on Lu Lucas Vazquez in the build-up but this time the goal stoo stood. A draw might h have appeased the home h fans but they were w denied even that as a slick m move through m midf i e l d f r e e d D a n i C a r v a j a l down the r right. ig ht. His cur v i ng cross fo fou nd A sensio, who co cou ld not miss.