Ajax coach Erik ten Haag said his team wants to “upset Europe’s elite” after reaching the Champions League last 16 with a 3-1 win at Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, a controversial statement from hosts Mats Hummels. Disappointed when he got out in the first half. Want to upset the elite teams of Europe. We’re not saying we’re the favourites, but no one wants to bring Ajax to a draw,” Ten Haag told broadcaster DAZN after coming from behind the Dutch side to win in Germany and secure their place in the knockouts. Said goal. Dortmund were furious at English referee Michael Oliver’s decision to send Hummels in after a foul on Ajax midfielder Antony, which he insisted was too harsh.
“I don’t know how you can give a red card in that situation. I don’t know how a referee who is supposed to be at Champions League level can make that decision,” Hummels told broadcaster DAZN.
He also accused Antony of drama-acting, saying Brazil was “extremely non-sporting”.
“He is a great footballer, but he has to learn to be a player,” said Hummels.
Ajax turned the game around in the final 20 minutes, with Antony playing a key role in setting up all three goals.
“We defended bravely, but it’s tough when you only have ten men,” said Dortmund captain Marco Reus.
Dortmund will be without Hummels when they travel to Portugal to face Sporting Lisbon on 24 November, a game that could decide who will join Ajax in the last 16.
While the Dutch side are well seated with four out of four wins, Dortmund are tied with third-placed Sporting, who beat Besiktas 4-0 on Wednesday.
controversial call
Desperate for revenge after losing 4–0 in Amsterdam, Dortmund missed two good chances to take the lead early on, Matt Hummels shaved the bar with a header, before Jude Bellingham missed a sitter minutes later. Went.
Free in the box after Ajax keeper Remko Pasvir scored a goal, the England midfielder somehow managed to lead a gentle cross wide of the empty net.
The home side was in for another pitiful night when Hummels was controversially sent off before the half-hour mark.
When VAR upheld Oliver’s decision, saying they later assumed the decision would be reversed, the veteran defender was clearly disappointed.
Yet Dortmund showed unusual patience with ten men, and were rewarded with a VAR decision in their favor only five minutes later.
After Bellingham was clipped by Nauser Mazrouei in the box, Reus buried the resulting penalty in the bottom corner to give the home team an unexpected lead.
Marco Rose’s team weathered an early storm after the break, but they bowed out at the end with 20 minutes to go.
A dangerous inswing cross from Antony threw Dortmund’s defence in jeopardy, and Dusan Tadic tossed the ball to the far post.
Ten minutes later Brazil sent a nearly identical ball into the field, and French striker Sebastian Haller nodded to complete Ajax’s return.
Antony completed an assist hat-trick in injury time, setting up Davy Klaasen with a late tap-in to rub salt into Dortmund’s wounds.
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