Trainer Erik ten Hag did not have access to the injured Davy Klaassen. Maarten Stekelenburg also turned out not to be fit enough to start. Remko Pasveer was his replacement. Ajax literally shot off the starting blocks. After 1 minute of play, the team from Amsterdam took the lead. In the first attack, Antony shot from the right – via a Portuguese blockade – on the post, where Haller was there like the chickens to head in the rebound: 0-1.
Four minutes later, the Ivorian striker had a small opportunity to even score the 0-2, but he just couldn’t reach it. The Ten Hag team started very strong in Portugal. So it didn’t take long before Ajax doubled the score after all. A long ball from the back really misjudged left back Ruben Vinagre, Antony picked it up and saw Haller free in front of the open goal: 0-2 within 8 minutes! What a luxury for Ten Hag and co.
Unlucky Pasveer
Sporting tried after that, but they couldn’t make a real fist. The damage was also considerable, of course. Trainer Ruben Amorim also had to change central defender Goncalo Inacio after 21 minutes, due to an injury. Ricardo Esgaio was his replacement.
But Ajax cut itself in the fingers. Paulinho was sent deep and from a difficult angle with Lisandro Martinez in the neck decided to shoot it. The 37-year-old Pasveer made an unfortunate intervention and saw the ball roll from under him into the goal: 1-2 in the 33rd minute.
Remko Pasveer blundered at the 1-2.
Ⓒ ANP/HH
Berghuis first goal
Fortunately, Berghuis knew exactly when he had to score his first goal for the team from Amsterdam: in the Champions League. Klaassen’s replacement on ’10’ got the ball through Antony and Ryan Gravenberch and hit the target in the short corner: 1-3.
Steven Berghuis is very happy with his goal.
Ⓒ ANP/HH
Just before half time, Zouhair Feddal was still just happy with the 2-3, but his header flew just over. Immediately after the tea break, Paulinho seemed to put the score at 2-3 with a nice header, but the VAR intervened: offside. Relief among the Amsterdammers.
Haller completely forgets ‘check marks gate’
Fortunately for Ajax, Haller was not forgotten to register this year. The Ivorian international completely forgot about ‘vinkjesgate’ on his debut in the Champions League, minutes after the disallowed Portuguese goal. Again star Antony was the preparator, with the outside left this time. Haller ran into it with left: 1-4.
Two minutes later, right back Pedro Porro aimed the ball at the post. It was not easy for the Portuguese in this phase, but in Amsterdam nobody cared because of that. Porro was allowed to try again in the 61st minute, but this time he found Pasveer on his way with a fine gliding dive.
Equalization Van Basten
But not much later it got even worse for Sporting. And again it was Haller who managed to pull the trigger, this time on the instructions of ‘Nous’ Mazraoui. 5-1, with four goals from the Ajax striker. What an evening for the former striker of FC Utrecht, among others. Haller equaled none other than Marco van Basten with his four goals on his debut.
In the final phase, both teams believed it. The Portuguese tried to limit the damage even further, while the Ajax players no longer looked for the 6-1 with full conviction. What remained: a resounding victory for Ten Hag and his followers and an excellent start to the Champions League campaign.
