Chelsea back from the dead in 4-4 thriller!
NINE-MAN AJAX COLLAPSE IN THRILLER
At least the game’s turning point was easy enough to identify amid this manic tangle of eight goals, two of them own goals, two more ruled out by VAR, two red cards and two penalties.
the crucial passage of play came with Chelsea trailing 4-2 and on the attack with 20 minutes left, when Ajax conceded their second spot kick of the night and were reduced to nine men with both central defenders sent off within seconds.
First Daley Blind was dismissed for a second yellow card, for a foul on tammy Abraham in the build-up to the penalty. that was awarded for a handball against Joel Veltman as he leaned into a shot by Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Veltman was sent off during the lengthy Ajax protests, although UEFA insisted later his second yellow card had been for the handball and not for dissent.
the Dutch champions, so slick and clinical in the first half, were suddenly outnumbered and rattled, haunted by memories of the Champions League semi-final collapse against tottenham.
Jorginho stepped forward to coolly convert from the spot to make it 4-3, momentum swung and substitute Reece James levelled when he drove the ball into the net after Kurt Zouma had headed against the bar.
James, 19, became Chelsea’s youngest Champions League scorer but there was no time to dwell on statistics when there was a winner to be found.
Cesar Azpilicueta thought he had grabbed it and slid on his belly towards a corner flag in celebration, kissing his captain’s armband, before VAR crushed his jubilation by cruelly ruling out the goal for an innocuous handball against Abraham in the preceding scramble.
It seemed harsh, but then so did the handball decision against Veltman. In the end, there was no winner and in truth no one deserved to lose. Ajax deserved something from the game for their creative flair and dead-ball delivery in the first half, as well as their determination to hang on with nine men.
Michy Batshuayi went close twice in the frantic closing stages and was denied by a fabulous save by Andre Onana.
Chelsea, meanwhile, can be satisfied with their spirited response although the euphoria was tempered by an injury to Mason Mount — and by their fragility at the back against set-pieces.
Less than two minutes had gone when Azpilicueta conceded a free- kick and Quincy Promes produced a vicious curling ball from the Ajax left. Abraham attempted to clear it, only to slice the ball from his shin and past Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Chelsea hit back within seconds when Christian Pulisic carved into the Ajax penalty area and was cut down by a mistimed slide tackle from Veltman. Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi pointed to the spot and Jorginho outfoxed goalkeeper Onana with his stuttering run-up.
Abraham then beat the Ajax keeper, only to find he had strayed offside, and the goal was ruled out by VAR before Lampard’s team conceded the second. Again, it was an in- swinging cross which caused them problems, this time delivered from the right by the magical left foot of Hakim Ziyech.
Promes drifted behind Azpilicueta at the back post and headed past Kepa from six yards. And Ajax claimed their third in similar circumstances. Ziyech swerved a free-kick to the far post, it bounced against the frame of the goal and smacked Kepa in the face as he scrambled across his goal line. His attempt to recover had resulted in another own goal. Ajax led 3-1 despite having only one shot on target. A bizarre hush settled over the Bridge.
Lampard snapped into action during the interval. Off came Marcos Alonso, Azpilicueta moved to left back and James stepped in at right back. Chelsea performed with more urgency and intensity and Mateo Kovacic released Abraham, who forced Onana into a fine, athletic save.
the home fans were revived but Ajax broke away and extended the lead. Fikayo tomori missed a tackle and Ziyech picked out Donny van de Beek. When he found the far corner to make it 4-1, it seemed like the end for Chelsea. In fact, it was only the beginning.
Azpilicueta inspired hope when he turned an effort by Abraham over the line from close range, then the game swung with two red cards which promise to have further impact.
Ajax will go into their next game against Lille without their centre halves and Chelsea will go to Valencia aware that a victory is enough to secure them a place in the last 16. CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Kepa 6; Azpilicueta 7.5, Zouma 6, Tomori 5, Alonso 4 (James 46min, 7); Kovacic 7 (Batshuayi 87), Jorginho 7.5; Willian 6, Mount 6 (Hudson-Odoi 60, 7), Pulisic 6.5; Abraham 7.
Subs not used: Caballero, Christensen, Gilmour, Kante.
Scorers: Jorginho 4, 71 (2 pens), Azpilicueta 63, James 74. Booked: Tomori, Azpilicueta.
Manager: Frank Lampard 7. AJAX (4-2-3-1): Onana 6; Mazraoui 6, Veltman 4, Blind 4, Tagliafico 6; Van de Beek 7, Martinez 7; Neres 6.5 (Schuurs 72, 6), ZIYECH 8 (Alvarez 72, 6), Promes 7.5; Tadic 6.
Subs not used: Varela, Huntelaar, De Jong,
Marin, Dest. Scorers: Abraham 2 (og), Promes 20, Kepa 36 (og), Van de Beek 55. Booked: Veltman, Blind, Promes. Sent off: Blind, Veltman. Manager: Erik ten Hag 7. Referee: Gianluca Rocchi 6. Attendance: 39,132.