Benfica have progressed to the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2016 after beating Ajax 1-0 (3-2 on aggregate) in the knockout ...
Benfica won 1-0 in Amsterdam thanks to their Uruguayan striker Darwin Núñez with the Portuguese club beating Ajax 3-2 on aggregate.
We played against a team that plays very well, we knew we were going to suffer, we suffered, we had to defend but our team gave everything.” But their hopes of an extended run in the Champions League were brought to a sudden end by Benfica, who have had a poor domestic season and sit 12 points from the summit of the Portuguese league. It was a very difficult game, we knew we all had to run when it came time to defend and attack.
Darwin Núñez struck from Benfica's only shot on target in Amsterdam as the Portuguese side booked a last-eight spot.
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Nunez header dumps Dutch side out of Champions League in Amsterdam.
Darwin Nunez got the only goal as Benfica stunned Ajax 1-0 in Amsterdam to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Ajax had plenty of possession but could not break down the Benfica defence as the Portuguese side held out. Ramos flashed another header across the face of the Ajax goal as the visitors searched for the opener. Darwin Nunez got the only goal as Benfica stunned Ajax 1-0 in Amsterdam to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Darwin Nunez headed home in the 77th minute to seal Benfica's passage to the last eight for the first time since 2016.
Ireland internationals Devin Toner and Lindsay Peat were our guests for The Front Row’s special live event, in partnership with Guinness, this week. Instead they found themselves behind for the first time in the tie as Nunez struck, and a Benfica team who lie third in the Portuguese league, 12 points behind leaders Porto, held on to join the cream of Europe’s elite in the last eight. A swashbuckling Ajax side had won all six games in the group stage before twice leading against Benfica in the first leg in Lisbon only to have to settle for a 2-2 draw.