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Commentary
Minute
Description
90' +4
FULL-TIME: AJAX 4-0 BORUSSIA DORTMUND
90' +2
J. Timber gets yellow.
For an apparent handball, Timber is shown a yellow card by the referee.
90' +1
Once more, Kobel is called to stop the Dortmund deficit rising higher, as he gets down low to block Neres inside the area. The young goalkeeper has almost been a one-man defensive unit for BVB today, yet has still had to pick the ball out of the net on four occasions.
89'
The Ajax fans are indulging in a rowdy 'Poznan' celebration, and running through their favourite anthems. It is party time for the home supporters in Amsterdam, but Dortmund dwell only on abject disappointment.
88'
A. Knauff enters the game and replaces J. Brandt.
Brandt has been virtually invisible in his midfield role, and is replaced by Knauff for the final few minutes.
85'
A crestfallen Haaland can only guide his header well over the bar under pressure from the Ajax defence, and he casts his eyes downwards as the Ajax fans cheer in delight.
83'
M. Daramy enters the game and replaces S. Haller.
D. Rensch enters the game and replaces N. Mazraoui.
Haller's work is done, as he is brought off and Daramy comes on.
With the game decided, Mazraoui is given a rest and Rensch is afforded an opportunity to impress.
79'
M. Pongračić enters the game and replaces M. Hummels.
M. Wolf enters the game and replaces T. Meunier.
A miserable match for Hummels is brought to a premature close, with Pongracic now on to replace him.
Meunier is the latest man to be withdrawn by Rose, and Wolf is on in his place for the final 10 minutes.
76'
David Neres enters the game and replaces Antony.
The referee remains unmoved as Neres hits the deck on the edge of Dortmund's box, calling for a free-kick. The fans scent blood and were hoping for a fifth!
75'
After an entertaining contribution to the match, Antony is replaced by his compatriot Neres in the Ajax attack.
Minute
Description
72'
S. Haller has scored a goal for Ajax! Assist by D. Blind.
Once again Blind - scorer of the second - finds himself in an advanced area, and cuts back an inviting ball for Haller to nod home for the fourth.
HALLER HAS HIS GOAL! A sixth goal of the group stage arrives for Ajax's star striker, as he steers a close-range header past Kobel from an accurate cutback by Blind. The Ivory Coast international missed out on European football last term due to a problem with his registration, but is certainly making up for lost time now! Ajax 4-0 Dortmund: this is becoming a rout!
69'
D. Klaassen enters the game and replaces S. Berghuis.
A straight swap for Ajax now, as Berghuis is substituted and Klaassen comes on in the number 10 role.
67'
Brandt wins a free-kick deep into Ajax territory, but Dortmund are again loose in possession and must recycle the ball at the back and build again. This will suit Ajax perfectly, as they seek to see out this game without any unwelcome scares.
65'
Pasveer makes a third save to deny Haaland's effort from inside the area, as the pair continue to engage in a running battle. So far, the goalkeeper is coming out on top!
63'
Another opportunity for Antony is less cause for concern at the Dortmund end, as his left-footed shot from outside the box misses to the right of the goal.
61'
With frustration perhaps creeping into his game, Bellingham brings down Alvarez and concedes a free-kick. The Englishman has often been a peripheral figure today, compared to his past European showings.
59'
Another tame effort from Bellingham from outside the box is saved comfortbaly by Pasveer in the centre of his goal. So far, Dortmund have been restricted to just a couple of opportunities for Haaland and have rarely troubled Ajax at the back.
57'
Antony has scored a goal for Ajax! Assist by S. Haller.
ANOTHER FOR AJAX! This time Antony gets it right! The elusive Brazilian collects a flicked header from Haller on the right side of the area, stands Can up and then proceeds to whip the ball around the static German defender and into the far corner of the Dortmund net - a delicious strike! Ajax have their three-goal lead: 3-0 to the Dutch champions!
Stretching for an outswinging Tadic cross, Haller just managed to get a head on the ball, which diverted it to Antony's feet, for the winger to work his magic.
54'
Frustratingly for Ajax, Antony takes the wrong option following an impressive surge up the right flank and into a shooting position outside the area. His curled effort drifts harmlessly wide of Kobel's post when others were waiting for a cross into the box.
53'
T. Hazard enters the game and replaces D. Malen.
Rose has seen enough from Malen today, and Hazard is brought on in the Dutch striker's place. Not a happy return to his homeland for the former PSV man!
50'
An alert save from Kobel keeps the on-rushing Gravenberch at bay, as the young goalkeeper palms away the Ajax man's shot on the stretch inside the area. Yet another chance spurned by the hosts!
48'
GREAT SAVE! Following his chance at the end of the first half, Haaland latches onto a lofted pass from deep to get off a powerful strike at goal from the edge of the box, but a fingertip save from the flying Pasveer tips the ball onto the bar and over! A fine effort, but an even better save!
46'
E. Can enters the game and replaces N. Schulz.
Rose has had a half-time rethink, and Schulz has been replaced by Can for Dortmund.
We are back under way at the Johan Cruyff Arena, as Dortmund look to mount an improbable comeback.
45' +1
HALF-TIME: AJAX 2-0 BORUSSIA DORTMUND
41'
A. Witsel gets yellow.
Conceding a free-kick in a dangerous spot, Witsel commits a clumsy foul on Tadic and receives a yellow card from the referee.
39'
Already on a booking, Alvarez brings down Bellingham in midfield, but Dortmund soon lose possession again.
37'
Antony is running the game from the right flank, as he drifts inside and out at will, with his latest intervention setting up Gravenberch for a shot from 20 yards out. However, the young midfielder drags his harmless low shot into the gloves of Kobel.
35'
Mazraoui earns a corner with a direct run and cross, which is blocked. After a brief spell of pressure in and around the Dortmund area, the visitors are then able to get the ball clear.
33'
E. Álvarez gets yellow.
Alvarez receives the first yellow card of the match, for crudely bringing down Malen inside the Ajax half.
29'
Antony and Haller combine well deep into Dortmund's half, but a promising move falters when the former strikes his pass out wide too firmly. Dortmund are merely clinging on!
27'
In space, Berghuis drags a good chance from the right of the area wide of the target, following fine build-up play from Antony, who has proved particularly influential so far.
25'
D. Blind has scored a goal for Ajax! Assist by S. Haller.
AJAX DOUBLE THEIR LEAD! A delightful layoff from Haller on the edge of the box highlights the Ivorian striker's link-up abilities, as he tees up Blind to thump in an unstoppable left-footed strike from 20 yards out. Dortmund are in big trouble here; Ajax are 2-0 up already!
Haller used his nous to attract defenders and lay the ball off accurately for Blind to fire home the second goal.
22'
After a brief period of treatment, the fallen Meunier is fit to continue at right-back for the away side, who need all the defensive help they can muster right now!
19'
Dortmund are now camped deep inside their own half, though are capable of lightning-quick counter-attacks which will keep dominant Ajax on their toes.
17'
Stretching desperately, Reus just misses out on a cutback from Haaland after excellent combination play between the Norwegian striker and Malen on the edge of the Ajax box.
15'
Ajax are mostly on top at the moment, as Dortmund reel from conceding another set-piece goal. Tadic is certainly causing them a lot of problems on the left flank.
13'
As Dortmund attempt to rebuild after their early setback, Bellingham tries a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it drifts wide of the goal.
11'
M. Reus is unfortunate, scores an own goal!
AJAX GO IN FRONT! A delighted Tadic wheels away to celebrate in front of the Ajax masses, as his inswinging free-kick forces his opposing captain Reus to glance a header past Kobel and into the back of his own net. Ajax lead 1-0!
8'
Kobel is called into action for the first time, as Antony finds himself free on the left side of the area but fires his early effort too close to the Dortmund goalkeeper. In fact, Hummels was the man to make the all-important block, but that was a presentable chance for the Brazilian winger.
4'
In the early stages, Witsel is dropping very deep to help out the Dortmund back four, as the visitors attempt to draw the sting from their hosts by retaining possession.
2'
Ajax are zipping the ball around in their customary style during the opening moments at the Johan Cruyff Arena, which is filled with some slow-clearing smoke.
1'
We are under way in Amsterdam!
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Champions League clash between Ajax and Borussia Dortmund in Amsterdam!
The destiny of the top two in Group C could be decided in the upcoming double-header between this pair of former winners, and today Dutch champions Ajax host Dortmund in the first of consecutive encounters. Both sides have secured six points from their first two fixtures against Besiktas and Sporting, so are now strong favourites to progress to the knockout stages.
Ajax have qualified from their Champions League group only once from their last eight appearances in the competition, memorably going on to reach the semi-finals in 2018-19. Third in their section for the second successive campaign last term, the Eredivisie leaders will hope to fare better than when they last met BVB, in the 2012-13 group stages - the German side won both games, 1-0 at home and 4-1 in the Netherlands.
SUBS: Charlie Setford, Kenneth Taylor, Davy Klaassen, Mohammed Kudus, Devyne Rensch, Jay Gorter, Danilo, David Neres, Mohammed Daramy, Nicolas Tagliafico, Perr Schuurs, Zakaria Labyad.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND (4-3-3): Gregor Kobel; Thomas Meunier, Manuel Akanji, Mats Hummels, Nico Schulz; Julian Brandt, Jude Bellingham, Axel Witsel; Donyell Malen, Marco Reus, Erling Haaland.
The players are out on the pitch, amid an atmospheric display of pyrotechnics from the Ajax fans, with kickoff now just moments away!
BVB are known to be vulnerable defensively and have conceded more goals than three members of the Bundesliga's bottom five this term, but this result will come as a nasty wake-up call for the German side. They will have to refocus and try to come up with a Plan B for when they next meet Ajax in a fortnight's time, or face a scrap for second place in Group C with Sporting.
That's all from Amsterdam today, so thank you for joining us and goodbye!
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