Darwin Nunez scored the winner as Benfica beat Ajax in Amsterdam to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.
After an entertaining first leg ended 2-2 in Lisbon, the return was far tighter and the visitors had done little to threaten before Nunez struck.
The Uruguayan beat Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana to head in a whipped free-kick with 13 minutes to go.
Ajax dominated and Sebastien Haller had the ball in the net early on, but Dusan Tadic was offside in the build-up.
Yet for all the home side’s possession they struggled to break down a resolute Benfica defence that was well marshalled by veteran centre-backs Nicolas Otamendi and former Ajax and Spurs man Jan Vertonghen.
Belgian Vertonghen also headed wide from a rare chance for the visitors, who showed little ambition and looked most likely to threaten from a set-piece.
And that was how it turned out, with Nunez popping up with the decisive goal in the tie from Alex Grimaldo’s superb delivery.
Antony had looked lively for the Dutch outfit and fired on target from distance before heading another effort over the crossbar – as what had been a buoyant atmosphere inside the Johan Cruyff Arena began to turn nervy.
In the end it was Benfica’s vociferous travelling support who were left chanting as their players enjoyed celebrations on the pitch, with the Portuguese outfit reaching the last eight of the Champions League for the first time since the 2015-16 campaign.
Line-ups
Ajax
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 24Onana
- 12Mazraoui
- 2TimberBooked at 83minsSubstituted forKudusat 90+6′minutes
- 21Martínez
- 17BlindBooked at 90mins
- 8GravenberchBooked at 90mins
- 4ÁlvarezSubstituted forBrobbeyat 81′minutes
- 11dos Santos
- 23BerghuisSubstituted forKlaassenat 81′minutes
- 10Tadic
- 22Haller
Substitutes
- 3Schuurs
- 6Klaassen
- 9Pereira da Silva
- 15Rensch
- 18Brobbey
- 19Labyad
- 20Kudus
- 25Taylor
- 30Daramy
- 31Tagliafico
- 33Tyton
- 51Setford
Benfica
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 99Vlachodimos
- 2JuniorSubstituted forLazaroat 90+1′minutes
- 30Otamendi
- 5Vertonghen
- 3Grimaldo
- 49TaarabtSubstituted forMeitéat 45′minutes
- 28Weigl
- 27Ferreira Silva
- 88Matias RamosBooked at 67minsSubstituted forGoncalves Bernardoat 90+1′minutes
- 7Sousa SoaresSubstituted forYaremchukat 72′minutes
- 9NúñezSubstituted forCupido Goncalvesat 81′minutes
Substitutes
- 11Meité
- 15Yaremchuk
- 17Cupido Goncalves
- 20João Mário
- 22Lazaro
- 23Radonjic
- 31Bastião Dias
- 34Magalhães de Almeida
- 39Pereira Araújo
- 55Goncalves Bernardo
- 77Aleixo Leite
- 91Rodrigues da Silva
- Referee:
- Carlos del Cerro Grande
- Attendance:
- 54,066
Live Text
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Match ends, Ajax 0, Benfica 1.
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Second Half ends, Ajax 0, Benfica 1.
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Offside, Ajax. Dusan Tadic tries a through ball, but Brian Brobbey is caught offside.
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Substitution, Ajax. Mohammed Kudus replaces Jurriën Timber.
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Ryan Gravenberch (Ajax) is shown the yellow card.
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Daley Blind (Ajax) is shown the yellow card.
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Foul by Ryan Gravenberch (Ajax).
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Roman Yaremchuk (Benfica) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Dangerous play by Jurriën Timber (Ajax).
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Julian Weigl (Benfica) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Benfica. Valentino Lazaro replaces Gilberto because of an injury.
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Substitution, Benfica. Paulo Bernardo replaces Gonçalo Ramos.
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Attempt blocked. Sébastien Haller (Ajax) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Noussair Mazraoui with a cross.
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Offside, Ajax. Daley Blind tries a through ball, but Brian Brobbey is caught offside.
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Lisandro Martínez (Ajax) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Soualiho Meité (Benfica).
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Brian Brobbey (Ajax) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica).
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Jurriën Timber (Ajax) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Jurriën Timber (Ajax).
