Ajax earns first points in the Champions League, yellow submarine in the background.
Ajax secured an epic 4-2 victory away to Qarabag, after twice trailing against one of the sensations of this season’s Champions League. These were the Amsterdam team’s first points in the Champions League group stage. Meanwhile, in the other early match, FC Copenhagen thrashed Villarreal 3-2 away to La Ceramica.
Qarabag reached this stage with 7 points, having already beaten Benfica at the Estádio da Luz, as well as FC Copenhagen (2-0) and drawing with Chelsea (2-2), while Ajax was languishing at the bottom of the table after accumulating five consecutive defeats, the last of which was at home against Benfica (0-2).
Azerbaijan started better, taking the lead in the 10th minute with a goal from Camilo Duran, who had also scored at the Estádio da Luz. Ajax, with their pride wounded, reacted strongly and managed to equalize before halftime, in the 39th minute, with a spectacular long-range shot from Dolberg.
Right at the start of the second half, in the 47th minute, the home team regained the lead with a goal from Brazilian Matheus Silva. The game was wide open and the minutes ticked away, pointing towards another embarrassing result for the former European champions, but the last ten minutes still allowed for a sensational comeback by the Dutch, who scored three goals in just eleven minutes, eventually winning 4-2.
Gloukh equalized the game again in the 79th minute, Anton Gaaei put Ajax ahead for the first time in the 83rd minute, while Gloukh, with a second goal, delivered the final blow in the 90th minute.
It was Ajax’s first victory, which earned them their first three points in the competition, bringing them level with Benfica in the standings. Qarabag, meanwhile, remains on 7 points.
Yellow submarine in the background
Perhaps even more surprising was FC Copenhagen’s 3-2 victory over Villarreal at La Ceramica, in a game where the Danes forced the Spaniards to chase the result.
FC Copenhagen practically started the game with a lead, with Elyounoussi opening the scoring after just 2 minutes. This result held until halftime, before a frantic start to the second half. Villarreal equalized early on through Santi Comesaña, but two minutes later Achouri restored the visi
Without time to breathe, Villarreal equalized again in the 56th minute through Tani Oluwaseyi. It was their third goal in a frantic ten-minute span.
The score remained tied until the 90th minute, when the Danes once again silenced the crowd at La Ceramica, with Andreas Cornelius sealing the final result in favor of the Copenhagen team.
With this result, FC Copenhagen catches up with Qarabag, both with 7 points, while Villarreal remains at the bottom of the standings with only 1 point.