Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Ajax: Champions League semi-finals, first leg – as it happened | Soccer

A big setback for the Spurs, then, but as their manager points out, he has only 0-1 and they are not out yet. See you here next Wednesday for the return leg in Amsterdam? Good news. In the meantime, here is the final account of Daniel Taylor. Thank you for reading this MBM. Night night!

Press conferences after the match. Streaming live, for your leisure and pleasure!

And here is the verdict of Mauricio Pochettino. "We started not in a good way. My feeling is that they were more responsive, showed more energy and it was difficult for us to play. Our lack of energy and our approach made things difficult. After conceding, we started to build, Sissoko provided good energy to the team. We started playing the way we wanted. In the second half, we pushed them. We are still alive, we are only 1-0 below, we must believe that we can go and win. I can not say that the form with which we started was bad, we did not have too many options. Of course I'm not happy. Our lack of energy was the problem, we were a bit sloppy, the form was not the reason we conceded. Our approach was not good. It's always my responsibility, because I'm the manager. We have to stay positive for the second leg. "No update on Vertonghen.

A word with the winner of the Ajax match, Donny van de Beek. "For the first 30 minutes, we played really well. After that, Tottenham changed something tactical and we had problems with that, but 1-0 is ok. Next week we must finish it. J & # 39; s hope! The beginning was good and after we did not play what we can. But we win and we have to make a good plan for next week. We have to stay calm this week because we are playing for the cup, we want to win too, and then we play the second game. We can do better. "

More news about Jan Vertonghen, injured. He is still being examined by the Spurs' medical staff but, according to BT Sport, no ambulance has been called, which is considered a good sign.

Christian Eriksen gives a complete and frank assessment of the events. "We did not play our best. The first 20 minutes, we were just ball watchers. Against a team that likes possession of the ball, it's impossible. We have a lot to change for the next game. We gave them a much better appearance than them. Of course, they are a good camp, but we helped them on their way. We gave them the feeling that they can control things. It was our fault. No matter the system, we were just up to every ball. It's far from what we know we can do. Nobody wanted to play the first half like us. We must intensify. We are lucky that they have reached the post because 2-0 would be different next week. But I hope we can change things in Amsterdam. "

A bad result for the Spurs, extremely disappointing, although it could have been worse. Ajax totally dominated the first period, Donny van de Beek sending Hugo Lloris in search of paper and home slots, and could easily have taken the advantage. They almost found that second goal elusive during a second half plus equal, David Neres hitting the post after beating a static Lloris. But only one goal was enough to get an advantage in the first leg. The Spurs never seriously worried Andre Onana for the purpose of Ajax. On the basis of this evidence, turning this round in Amsterdam next week is a big demand. But never say, because Son Heung-min will be back from the suspension and pose different problems in Ajax. There is always hope.

Ajax have the advantage during the return match in Amsterdam next week!

90 min +2: Foyth fouls Tadic on the left. A free kick. In the background, Pochettino's shoulders sag. He knows the jig is up tonight. Her team will have to win in Amsterdam if she wants to reach the final.

90 min +1: Onana eats most of the first minute with a goal kick. Local fans scream in impotent fury as the referee sees nothing wrong with the goalkeeper's luggage.

90 min: Foyth is extremely good at reaching the line from the right and whipping a ball into the box. He finds almost Alli, just to the left of the D … but not quite. There will be three more minutes.

89 min: On the sideline, Pochettino is blowing hard. The night has been long. Spurs do not look like saving him. Can they find something that would make events totally different?

86 min: Ajax caresses the ball a little. No urgency, but the clock is their friend.

84 min: The space for Sissoko on the right. His cross is decent, but Llorente does not attack it. An easy one for Onana.

83 min: Onana takes her sweet time on her goals. It is somewhat surprising that the referee did not speak with him, let it be done. But he gets away with it and the morale of the crowd is weakened.

82 min: The Spurs advance through Eriksen, who does not find a deadly pass, but is sent back to Moura, cut off by Ziyech. A free kick 25 meters, a little to the right of the center. Eriksen's eyes light up. But no, he decides not to attack directly and looks for Alderweireld at the far post. He finds his man, but the defender moves weakly towards the bar.

80 min: Tottenham makes his last throw of dice, refreshing his back. After Trippier and Rose, Davies and Foyth.

78 min: Mazraoui makes his way to the right, rubbing himself until Eriksen to the edge of the surface. He shuttles inside for Tadic, who could shoot, but will unload selflessly on Neres, in a lot of space to his left. Neres searches the bottom right and beats Lloris but hits the bottom of the post. The ball bounces. The Spurs come out with a big one.

76 min: Eriksen passes the ball to the left for Rose who enters the area and shoots. For a second, it looks extremely promising. But Veltman comes through and blocks his block perfectly. From the corner, Eriksen throws a terrible effort over the bar.

74 min: He briefly threatens to kick off between Alli and Neres, an argument around throwing near the midline, for God's sake. Pochettino is there to intervene between the players in quarrel and calm the game in record time.

73 min: Neres, left, slides the ball inside for De Jong, who is busy playing for Tadic. Spurs pretty much keep the door closed. The Ajax shows signs of back in its first half throat.

71 min: Trippier plays a loose ball in the back and Tadic gets closer. He dribbles to the surface with goal. Trippier is fortunate that Alderweireld, Wanyama and Sissoko are joining forces to close it. For a split second, another goal outside of Ajax was looking at the cards.

70 min: Rose is again in a huge space on the left. Sissoko spots him and passes him a big cross pass. Onana comes for everything, though, and here he is who catches the high ball once more. He drops it, but only because Rose crushed it. Free kick. It's fun to watch, Onana. An artist. A touch of Grobbelaars about it.

69 min: Alli passes the ball to the left of Rose, which is in acres. Rose for some reason tries a first center, instead of making her way into the surface, and her ball does not beat the first man. The blind heads are clear, a dangerous situation spoiled.

67 min: Sissoko beats the Tagliafico at the back. The referee takes a look at him.

65 min: Ajax makes his first change of the night. Schone is replaced by Mazraoui. Schone looks very stung to be hooked, but Ajax needs a boost in the midfield and the decision was made.

63 min: Veltmen offers Alli the ball on the Spurs, then his man is panicked. Booking. Eriksen scored the free kick in the box, even though it was low. Llorente launches the Ajax line, but can not connect with a leg in battle. Half a chance, that.

62 min: Moura escapes from a screening of Jong, just to the right of the Ajax box. He looks for Llorente with his cross, but can not find his man. The Spurs begin to push Ajax finally.

61 min: Moura is stuck as he advances right quickly. Free kick and a new chance for Trippier to launch a long time in the surface. What he does, but Ajax has held a ridiculously high line and there is no one in the area at all. Up Onana, plucked plucking.

59 min: Sissoko's boot scrapes Jong's shin. This is not the best challenge you will ever see, but the Spurs man is doing the right thing. Just a free kick in the midfield.

58 min: Eriksen scores from the left side and causes some panic in the defense against Ajax. Llorente is almost completely clear of the pass with a nice Cruyff pass in Haan dating back to 1971. But the door closed just in time.

56 min: Moura made his presence felt on the right side of Ajax D. The ball slid wide to the back of Trippier, who placed a cross at the back of the stick, where Alli climbed the highest. He should do a lot better than leave safely. Yet another thing to categorize under C is better, though.

55 min: Spurs see more ball, too … it's just that they do not do much with it. But it is a step forward compared to their performance in the first half. After leaving Vertonghen, it's amazing to see what an extra man in the middle of the field can do.

53 min: Tottenham has been faster in the tackle since the restart, and the crowd reacted in the same way. Next step: give Onana a serious job to do. He spent a very quiet night so far.

51 min: It's a really open game. Sanchez's mistake allows Ziyech and Neres to face the Spurs' surface. The ball is broken to Tadic on the penalty spot, but he can not slip away. Rose slips in to hang the ball out of danger with Neres on the lookout.

50 min: Alli, Eriksen and Moura are causing Ajax some problems at the edge of their box. The ball returns to Alli, in a small space in the lower left. The ball is well raised for a shot that is whistled directly into Onana's throat. The first shot on the target for Spurs.

48 min: Rose wins a corner at the bottom left. Llorente finally finds herself on the blank, then Trippier places a cross in the blender. Onana passes through a group of players to pick from the sky.

46 min: Almost immediately after the kickoff, Llorente juggles with the ball at the edge of the Ajax box but can not quite get shot. For a second, there was a big gap in this defense of Ajax. Then the visitors climb the other end, Tagliafico dragging a wide shot to the right of 25 meters.

We are leaving again! Ajax makes the Spurs wait before going into fashion for the second half of the year. The Spurs roll the ball. No change at half time. A big 45 minutes is coming. A little more about Vertonghen: he is in the medical room being evaluated by doctors. Just before tonight's story unfolds before us, here is a brief commentary from Hubert O. Hearn: Team. "

An update on Jan Vertonghen. According to BT Sport, he is "OK in the locker room", which is great news given his lamentable state, as he was helped on the ground. "The Spurs have invested too much in this game so that doctors and coaches can make a rational decision about the health of a player as important as Jan Vertonghen," says Preston Goulson, from the other side of the game. # 39; pond. "Make this decision out of their hands and put an independent manager on the sideline to make an informed assessment. It was a crucial step that the NFL had taken several years ago, and it will be just as important in football. There are already too many situations in Hugo Lloris / Jan Vertonghen, and it is unreasonable. "

Sissoko just has the time to cut a powerful 20-meter shot, and that's it for the first half. Strangely, considering everything that has happened before and the almost total domination of Ajax, the half-time whistle falls at the wrong time for the Spurs, who are finally starting to ask a question. This can give them some help for the second half.

45 min +3: A free kick for Spurs on the right. Trippier heads for Alderweireld on the penalty spot, cleared in a big gap between Blind and Ligt. Alderweireld attempts to guide a loop header in the upper right corner; it was framed, it was because Onana had been beaten. But it drifts just above the bar. The Spurs are finally in attack, and all is about high bullets slid into the surface. Ajax does not seem comfortable with them.

45 min +2: A little tennis head in the Ajax box, resulting in a pink throw from the left. For the first time tonight, Ajax looks a little panicky, with Llorente and Alli on the lookout. The Spurs do not have their heads on their heads and a terrible center of Trippier releases the pressure.

45 min: Ziyech, Schone and Jong pass the ball right in pretty triangles. Once again, the Spurs are almost open. They really need to go at half-time without giving up a second. And there's another five minutes left, a long pause due to poor Vertonghen's injury.

43 min: The hearts in Tottenham's mouth while Neres is sent clearly down the left. He is released from Sanchez momentarily. But the big defender catches the ground, forcing Neres to question himself as he enters the box and loses the race. The more he goes. And then the flag rises late for offside anyway.

42 min: Lucas Moura seems to be Tottenham's best bet for coming back tonight. He dribbles with great utility in the left inner channel and enters the area. It's a good race, but Veltman comes from behind and performs a perfectly timed tackle. No penalty. A corner where nothing comes.

41 min: Both teams are a bit cold after the restart. Lucas Moura burst into the right inner canal and looks for a white shirt in the center, but Onana nibbles. Then a free kick for Ajax, loop in the Spurs box; Ligt gives a wide header to the right.

39 min: No, it was obviously going to happen. Vertonghen seems incredibly unstable, and he asks to go out. This happens immediately, with Sissoko taking his place, the Spurs passing to four. Vertonghen drops down the tunnel and then collapses halfway. He is surprised by his worried manager, Pochettino. It's horrible to watch. He was taken away, looking very unsteady on his feet, in the tunnel, and everyone is thinking of him.

37 min: Vertonghen finally gets a new pair of shirts and shorts. All blood is cleansed. The referee checks a second time with the Spurs bench that he has undergone a shock test. The answer is yes, and the player is finally allowed to come back. Here's Ian Copestake: "The thorns are not so much present in the store, but in front of the said establishment until the owner arrives to open it so he can start working.

35 min: Vertonghen finally gets up. The poor boy's face is in a deplorable state, but the Spurs are not preparing a substitute. A new shirt and he will come back in a minute.

33 min: A long pause while Vertonghen is patched up. His top looks like the shirt of Ajax. A broken nose, the result of tying the back of the head of his defensive partner. Ooyah.