Hi, I am Scott Kelly and I will take you through Wednesday evening’s Champions League early kick off at Vodafone Park between Besiktas and Ajax. Erik Ten Hag’s side will want to make it five wins from five in their Champions League group and surprisingly start with striker Sebastian Haller on the bench. Besiktas, who have no points in their group, will be playing for pride only and will need a miraculous swing of results and goal difference to even qualify for a Europa League spot.
Here are the line ups for the game this evening:
1′- The game is underway.
9′ – An Ajax corner is plucked out of the air from Dusan Tadic who lays it back to Mohamed Daramy who fires over from just outside of the penalty area.
11′ – Georges-Kévin Nkoudou is fed by Rachid Ghezzal but the former Tottenham wingers attempt at goal is blocked by Martinez.
21′ – VAR check in progress – Mazraoui clearly handles the ball after a Besiktas corner. Referee Irfan Peljto goes to the monitor to look for himself but we could well see a penalty given here for the home side.
21′ – PENALTY FOR BESIKTAS! – Peljto didn’t need to look for long and the penalty is given for handball.
Embed from Getty ImagesBESIKTAS 1-0 Ajax – Ghezzal fires his penalty high to the roof of the net and Onana stands little chance of stopping it.
Embed from Getty Images26′ – Dusan Tadic picks up the ball in the Besiktas penalty area and his tame shot is saved comfortably by Gunok.
30′ – Larin tests Ajax keeper Onana as he has to dive to his right to deny the Canadian’s effort after good build up play from Alex Teixeira.
41′ – Besiktas striker Larin will be kicking himself for missing this one as he is played through brilliantly by Alex Teixeira and he is denied brilliantly by Onana, who dives at the former Orlando City forwards feet.
45′ – There will be two minutes of stoppage time to be played.
45+1′ – Tagliafico wins a free kick for the away side after good play down the left hand side. Gravenberch’s ball into the area has a lot of height on it and despite the penalty area being flooded with black shirts, Gunok easily claims.
HALF TIME: BESIKTAS 1-0 AJAX
46′ – Ajax get the second half underway. Sebastian Haller is on and Mohamed Daramy has been replaced.
53′- GOAL FOR AJAX
Besiktas 1-1 AJAX– A fantastic eye of a needle pass from Lisandro Martinez who plays through to Tagliafico, who squares to Sebastian Haller and he does the simple task of tapping the ball into an empty net. Eight Champions League goals this term now for the former West Ham striker.
Embed from Getty Images58′- Ajax have changed the pattern of this game in the second half and Neres dribbles well on the right. who plays it to Haller in the area. His first touch is brilliant and he turns and shoots but his effort just goes over Gunok’s goal.
59′- First substitution for Besiktas as Can Bozdogan replaces Alex Teixeira
61′- Ajax win the ball in their own half on the left and Berghuis is driving with the ball, he crosses for Tagliafico, who seemed surprised the ball came to him, but he unfortunately heads over the Besiktas crossbar.
67′- Haller picks up the ball just outside the box and sets up Tadic with a cute pass and he is brought down by Montero, who times his tackle brilliantly to deny the winger a decent attempt on goal.
70′ – GOAL FOR AJAX
Besiktas 1-2 AJAX – Sebastian Haller adds to his tally this evening as a free kick from Martinez on the left gets delivered dangerously into the box and Haller prods his right foot out to steer the ball past Gunok. He has now scored nine goals in the Champions League which is more than Besiktas and Borussia Dortmund combined.
Embed from Getty Images76′ – Cyle Larin tries to create an opening in the Ajax penalty area. He however runs out of pitch and a poor touch means Onana gratefully grasps the ball.
80′ – Triple change for the home side as Salih Ucan, Atiba Hutchinson and Necip Uysal replace Miralem Pjanic, Mehmet Topal and Javi Montero respectively.
83′ – A corner from Ajax is whipped in dangerously and Lisandro Martinez’s header is saved well by Mert Gunok.
85′- YELLOW CARD
Haller is the first player of the evening in the book as he is carded for a late challenge.
86′ – A free kick 30 yards from goal is delivered and Hutchinson gets some contact to the ball, but its not proper contact and the attempt goes over Onana’s goal.
88′- YELLOW CARD
Cyle Larin is booked after Davy Klaassen comes off the worst of what seemed like a decent 50/50 challenge. The Ajax midfielder ends up needing treatment.
Embed from Getty Images90′- There are three minutes of stoppage time to be played.
90+3 – Haller is denied a hat trick as David Neres is flagged offside in the build up as Haller prods home. A VAR check was done however the decision stands.
FULL TIME: BESIKTAS 1-2 AJAX
