Surprising, isn’t it?
After beating Manchester City in a stunning quarter-final clash earlier, Tottenham Hotspur were expected to start strongly at home in the semi-finals. But it was Ajax who put one leg in the finals of the Champions League after a decisive away goal on Tuesday night.
Spurs, who missed the presence of injured Harry Kane and the suspended Hueng Min-Son, were no match for their opponents in the first half. Midfielder Donny van de Beek beat the offside trap in the 15th minute and slotted past Hugo Lloris in what proved to be the difference in the end.
Read - We were under par, admits Christian Eriksen after Spurs suffer home loss against Ajax
First beating Real Madrid, then Juventus and now potentially Spurs; the young Ajax team have been the story of the season so far.
The four-time European champions have a rich history of producing some of the continent’s finest players and, on the evidence of this mature display, their latest crop of wonderkids are worthy successors to Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Patrick Kluivert and Dennis Bergkamp.
The average age of Ajax’s starting eleven in the Champions League this season has been 24 years and 257 days, with their line-up against Tottenham the youngest of any Champions League semi-finalist for the last six years.
Here is what Twitter had to say as they put up another brave display.
Ajax away in the Champions League:
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 30, 2019
1-1 vs Bayern
1-1 vs Benfica
2-0 vs AEK Athens
4-1 vs Real Madrid
2-1 vs Juventus
1-0 vs Spurs
Unbeaten and fearless ❌❌❌ pic.twitter.com/RgFIUq5fWn
Ajax away from home in the Champions League knockout stages:
— Coral (@Coral) April 30, 2019
Real Madrid 1-4 Ajax ✅
Juventus 1-2 Ajax ✅
Spurs 0-1 Ajax ✅
This side fears absolutely no one. pic.twitter.com/re7BquiPTx
Ajax have beaten Real Madrid away, Juventus away, and now Spurs away. Wow. Just wow. Incredible feat.
— Alan (@305Gunner) April 30, 2019
Top clubs watching Ajax young players pic.twitter.com/TB54AxRNUm
— Football memes (@trolllfootballl) May 1, 2019
I know the final score was 0-1 but did Ajax ball Tottenham like this the whole game? Cuz sheesh 😬 pic.twitter.com/6OuEvAY6Yv
— .... (@Okwuchi_) May 1, 2019
Top European clubs to Ajax during the summer transfers pic.twitter.com/rtcpqgbA8p
— Der Kerl😎 (@Olayinka_Fada) April 30, 2019
Ajax in the summer when big clubs come and raid them pic.twitter.com/DVHRbHK0gz
— Andrei 🇺🇦 (@ZuperZinchenko) April 30, 2019
Ajax with the win tonight.. comfortable in large parts of the game. However #THFC still in this, big positive with Son returning for 2nd Leg... bringing pace & goals back into this team which they lacked tonight!
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) April 30, 2019
Next Stop: @FCBarcelona 🏟✈️
Beating Ajax isn't for everyone. Only Jose Mourinho know how to beat them. #SpecialOnepic.twitter.com/wiYbgVZMsx
— Jose Mourinho (@MourinhoNews) April 30, 2019
First Bernabeu, then Turin, today at White Hart lane, Ajax passing their way through to the Champions League finals pic.twitter.com/bPvhiCflxj
— TheBuildupPlay (@TheBuildupPlay) May 1, 2019
Man United sold Daley Blind to Ajax but kept Young, Smalling, Rojo & Jones. Unreasonable. pic.twitter.com/U3aBFY0Vas
— Excited_ManUtd_Fan (@Mr_Hackmird) April 30, 2019
At 22 years, 12 days, Donny van de Beek has become the third-youngest Ajax goalscorer in a Champions League semi-final
— SpOrTs ToWn. (@Sportstown01) April 30, 2019
Star in the making ⭐ pic.twitter.com/wDjqLUxmFB
It's Ajax o'clock in London 🕰#TOTAJA #UCL pic.twitter.com/l3XilI2oFH
— Àmîŕ Çh (@ChaterAmir) April 30, 2019
van de Beek in all competitions for Ajax
— King flex mayne (@Kingflexmayne) April 30, 2019
• 134 appearances
• 30 goals
• 20 assists
🔥🔥 And we on here overhauling Marcus rashford pic.twitter.com/1120dvKkU0
Harry Kane reacts to Spurs defeat against Ajax #letsgo https://t.co/6RQ5FCv1Ao pic.twitter.com/5dVwGHyi1x
— Darren Farley (@DFImpressionist) April 30, 2019
Van de Beek the new and improved Ramsey you gotta love it
— Ayub (@SweeperKeeper1) April 30, 2019
Spurs just keep on giving. 😂😂😂😂😂 Absolute bottle jobs!!!
— Sim ⚒W.H.U.⚒. (@BeckleySim) April 30, 2019