Benfica 2-2 Ajax: Roman Yaremchuk comes off the bench to score equaliser for hosts against Eredivisie side

It ended all square between Benfica and Ajax after a four-goal thriller in the first leg of their round of 16 tie at the Estadio da Luz. The visitor’s struck first through a brilliantly composed Dusan Tadic finish. The former Southampton player was found unmarked at the back post and was able to cushion the ball back across goal and into the top corner.

Ad/> Sebastien Haller — who has been on fine form throughout his debut Champions League campaign — turned the ball into his own net as Benfica inherited a fortunate equaliser. Jan Vertonghen picked up a loose ball from a corner, and tried his luck as he hammered the ball back across goal, which steered off Hallers right leg and an empty net. Africa Cup of NationsAFCON coverage ‘completely tinged with racism’ – Wright30/12/2021 AT 11:59 Three minutes later and just shy of the half-hour mark, Haller restored Ajax’s advantage.

He managed to latch on to a Tadic cross and after his first effort was blocked by Vertonghen, poked the rebound beyond Odysseas Vlachodimos. Benfica pushed much harder for an equaliser in the second half, and reaped the rewards when substitute Roman Yaremchuk pulled the scores level. Goncalo Ramos had a long range effort saved by Pasveer, but the goalkeeper couldn't get to his feet quick enough as Yaremchuk arrived sharpest to nod the rebound into an empty net.

Both sides had opportunities to snatch the win, but the tie remains level going into the second leg. TALKING POINT — ANTHONY LUCKY TO NOT HAVE SEEN RED In the dying minutes of the game, Ajax’s Anthony — who had been brilliant all night — pushed his head into Darwin Nunez’s to give the referee a decision to make. Luckily for the Brazilian, the ref only issued a yellow card.