Ajax produced one of the greatest Champions League comebacks as an historic 4-1 victory at the Bernabeu dumped holders Real Madrid out 5-3 on aggregate.
With Real leading 2-1 from the first leg, Ajax travelled to Madrid needing to score at least two goals to reach their first quarter-final in 16 years – they achieved that inside 18 minutes as Hakim Ziyech and David Neres put the visitors in control.
A sumptuous third from Dusan Tadic (62) was allowed to stand after a VAR review and, though Marco Asensio sparked hopes of a late Real rally, they were extinguished 18 minutes from time as Lasse Schone’s audacious free-kick from an impossible angle looped over Thibaut Courtois.
Real’s fourth consecutive home defeat, their biggest in European competition, marks the end of an era at the Bernabeu after four Champions League wins in the last five seasons, while it could have huge ramifications on the future of manager Santiago Solari.
Remarkably, Real could have put the tie out of Ajax’s reach inside four minutes, Raphael Varane cannoning a header against the angle of post and bar from a fine Lucas Vazquez cross.
But they paid the price for that miss, the visitors taking just three minutes to take advantage of their reprieve. Tadic picked Sergio Reguilon’s pocket, raced into the area and shifted the ball into the path of Ziyech, whose well-placed shot flashed past Courtois into the bottom corner.
And, on 18 minutes, Ajax were in dreamland. Tadic was the architect again, pirouetting his way through the Madrid defence before playing Neres into space in the area from where he rounded Courtois to double Ajax’s lead.
Real’s hopes of staging a comeback were dented by the loss of Vazquez and Vinicius Jr to injury in the space of three first-half minutes, Gareth Bale and Marco Asensio came on and the Welshman nearly grabbed Real a lifeline, but his near-post shot hit the woodwork three minutes before the break.
Real and Ajax readily exchanged blows in a pulsating start to the second half before the inspirational Tadic stamped his mark on the game, rifling a thunderous drive into the top corner at the end of the flowing counter, the goal allowed to stand after a lengthy VAR review ruled that full-back Noussair Mazraoui had kept the ball in play.
Asensio then swept home from Reguilon’s cross to leave Real with 20 minutes to score the two more goals they needed to progress. But their faint hopes of a comeback lasted less than two minutes as Schone’s free-kick from far on the left flank outwitted Courtois on its way into the top corner.
Frustration then got the better of Real as defender Nacho was shown two yellow cards and then a red to compound a miserable evening for the dethroned champions of Europe, while Ajax rejoiced in their first knockout win in the competition in 22 years.
Harry Kane’s second-half winner settled Tottenham as they beat Dortmund 1-0 on the night and 4-0 on aggregate in their Champions League last-16 second leg in Germany.
Hugo Lloris kept Dortmund out in the first half with fine saves from Marco Reus, Julian Weigl and Mario Gotze as the hosts went gung-ho, while Heung-Min Son poked wide having gone through on goal during a rare Tottenham attack.
But Kane’s vital away goal flattened Dortmund, producing a fine finish having been played through on goal by Moussa Sissoko (49), and with it becoming Spurs’ all-time top European scorer.
The result means Spurs reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2011, with the draw for the last eight on March 15.
Dortmund dominated the ball in the first half, registering 70 per cent possession, but could not find a way through Spurs as Lloris came to the rescue on more than one occasion.
Jan Vertonghen made a fantastic last-ditch tackle to deny Reus, but Reus did then manage to get a shot off on goal, forcing Lloris into a sharp save after deflecting off Davinson Sanchez.
Son spurned a rare Spurs opportunity after being played through one-on-one by Christian Eriksen, poking wide after a suspected push in the back by Marius Wolf, before another onslaught on Spurs’ goal at the other end saw Lloris make two quick-fire stops.
First, the Frenchman saved on the line from Julian Weigl’s header, before keeping out Mario Gotze’s curling effort from inside the box with a fine one-handed stop.
But Kane became Spurs’ all-time top European scorer after the break, overtaking Jermain Defoe with his 24th in trademark style as he curled a fine finish around Roman Burki from 18 yards after Sissoko’s through ball cut open a snoozing Dortmund back line.
Soon-to-be Chelsea midfielder Christian Pulisic headed over in space with 15 minutes remaining, and Lloris earned a deserved clean sheet with a fine low save from Paco Alcacer’s drive.
Lloris has been under the microscope again of late after the mix-up which led to Chelsea’s second in their 2-0 defeat last Wednesday, but his contribution ensured Spurs crucially went into half-time level.
He made seven saves in total, five of which were more than your routine stop, on a night where Mauricio Pochettino’s masterplan still depended on a fine goalkeeping performance. – Sky Sports.
