Ajax 2-3 Tottenham: Moura comeback hat-trick sends Spurs to historic Champions League final

Tottenham Hotspur defeated Ajax to qualify for their first ever UEFA Champions League final after coming from two goals down in the first half, but a second-half hat-trick from Lucas Moura sends the North London team to the historic final.

Another early goal for the Dutch side just after four minutes, but this time from the captain, Matthijs de Ligt, who headed home a corner kick from Lasse Schoene. Spurs captain Hugo Lloris was forced to a save after Dusan Tadic unleashes a powerful strike from the edge of Spurs’ box. The home team made no mistake from the corner kick.

With that goal, Matthijs de Ligt joins an elite team of young players to have scored in the UEFA Champions League semifinal, including Nigeria’s Obafemi Martins.

Spurs almost levelled immediately with Son sending in a low cross-shot that evades Onana, but fortunately for the hosts, it clips away off the base of the upright.

A reckless ball from Onana threatens to put Ajax in trouble in the 30th minute, but instead of caving under pressure, Ten Hag’s side calmly play their way out from the back. Tadic leads the counter, squaring up Alderweireld before getting around his former Southampton team-mate and thumping a low effort across the face of goal, inches wide.

Dušan #Tadić is so close to giving #Ajax a two-goal.#AJATOT pic.twitter.com/wBgdms2pdy

— Tribun (@tribun) May 8, 2019

Moroccan forward Hakim Ziyech made it two in the 36th minutes after Tadic took the ball over Trippier, and combines with Dolberg. The former Southampton man then picks up his head and plays an inch-perfect cut-back to Ziyech, who slams an exquisite first-time finish into the far corner.

Tottenham came in the second half with real business, as they started off like they did in the first leg of the encounter as Dele Alli force Onana to a great save after a chipped pass from Eriksen found the England international, but the Cameroonian goalkeeper produced a great save.

Moments later, Lucas Moura pulled one back for Spurs, as Rose produced a brilliant bit of skill from to set up a counter attack, Alli racing clear before turning the ball into Moura’s path, and he places a brilliant finish beyond Onana.

Four minutes later, Tottenham are levelled. A defensive blunder between Onana and midfielder Shoene after the goalkeeper made a great save gifter Moura with another chance and the Brazilian made no mistake as he picked the bottom left corner.

Both Ziyech and Jan Vertoghen came close to scoring form their clubs, as the Ajax forward’s shot rattled off the upright while their Belgian’s free header beat Onana, but came off the crossbar.

It’s a hat-trick, it’s amazing. Lucas Moura has proved the hero, somehow getting to a loose ball first and slotting a precise finish into the bottom-left corner.