With Tottenham’s last major trophy 15 years ago, the team continues its quest for prestigious titles. During this dry spell, it is important to reflect on those moments which brought joy to all Spurs fans. There have been heartbreaks and near-misses but also triumph and glory – one such moment being their historic comeback against Ajax in the Champions League semi-finals. This match proved to be an exciting journey for fans as well as a wide array of bookmakers across the UK. Let’s delve deeper into how it unfolded.
The First Leg: Ajax Dominates at Home
On April 30th, 2019, Tottenham Hotspur travelled to Amsterdam to face Ajax in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals. Ajax had been one of the surprise packages of the tournament, knocking out defending champions Real Madrid and Italian giants Juventus in the previous rounds. Tottenham, on the other hand, were without star striker Harry Kane and midfield dynamo Son Heung-min due to injury and suspension, respectively.
The absence of Kane and Son proved a significant setback for Tottenham, as they struggled to create chances against Ajax’s well-organised defence. By contrast, Ajax played with an assurance that belied their youth; playmakers Hakim Ziyech and Dusan Tadic led the charge with ease.
From the outset, Ajax took on an aggressive style with an emphasis on possession and attack. Tottenham struggled to get a foothold in the game, and it wasn’t long before the Dutch side took the lead through Donny van de Beek. Ajax continued to press forward and doubled their lead thanks to a stunning strike from Hakim Ziyech.
At halftime, Tottenham’s hopes looked bleak. They were down 2-0 on aggregate and had yet to score a goal in the tie. Overcoming a deficit of that size would be a monumental task, especially against a team as talented and well-drilled as Ajax.
The Second Half: Lucas Moura’s Heroics
Tottenham arrived at halftime with an upbeat spirit and renewed determination. Within 10 minutes of starting the second half, Lucas Moura scored a powerful goal giving the team some much needed momentum, spurring on their quest for more goals. The next goal by Moura followed in just 4 minutes — nothing short of a miracle.
With a little less than 10 minutes remaining, Lucas Moura completed his mythical hat trick and secured Tottenham’s incredible comeback victory. He curled a shot into the bottom corner to send Spurs right through to the final.
Tottenham made an incredible comeback, having appeared to be doomed at halftime. Lucas Moura’s heroics will go down in Spurs history as a testament to their resilience and fighting spirit during what seemed like insurmountable odds.
At the final whistle in Amsterdam, Tottenham players and fans celebrated wildly. It was an moment of pure euphoria as their club had pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in Champions League history. Although ultimately Tottenham fans were disappointed by Liverpool’s victory, memories of that night will endure forever.