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| Thulani Serero scored the opening goal for the giant killing Ajax |
Dutch side
Ajax humbled Barcelona before a boisterous home crowd. Ajax opened the scoring in the 19th
minute when South African international Thulani Serero meet Ricardo Van Rihjn’s
cross with a little back heel from Danny Hoesen.
Ajax extended the lead in the 41st minute when Pinto failed to hold on to his save from a Viktor Fischer shot. The rebound fell to Danny Hoesen who flicked the ball past Carles Puyol and into slotting the ball into Pinto’s goal.
Barcelona countered early in the second half when Neymar was fouled by Joel Veltman who was red carded for the violation. Xavi Hernandez then coolly scored the penalty after Ajax goalkeeper Jasper Cilessen went the other way.
However,
that was all Barcelona could do despite an already undermanned Ajax. Andres
Iniesta and Xavi tried to weave play after play but Ajax defence was just too
good to allow Barcelona to pull a fast one on Ajax. Ajax preserved the lead to keep their hopes
alive to qualify for the next round of the Champion’s League knockout stage
next year.
