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UEFA Champions League: Ajax eliminate Madrid in round of 16; Tottenham through to next round

Associated Press Tuesday, 5 March 2019, 23:10 Last update: about 8 years ago

Ajax stunned Real Madrid 4-1 at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Tuesday, eliminating the three-time defending champion 5-3 on aggregate in the round of 16 of the Champions League.

Ajax needed less than 20 minutes to reverse a 2-1 deficit from the first leg, with Hakim Ziyech scoring in the seventh minute and David Neres in the 18th.

Dusan Tadic, who set up both first-half goals, added to the lead in the 62nd, and Lasse Schone sealed the Dutch team's triumph — and its first quarterfinal appearance since 2003 — with a free kick from a tight angle in the 72nd.

Marco Asensio had pulled the hosts closer a couple of minutes earlier.

It was the fourth straight home loss for Madrid, something that hadn't happened since 2004, and capped one of the worst weeks in the club's recent history.

It also ends an unprecedented era of dominance in the Champions League after winning three straight titles. Madrid had reached at least the semifinals in eight straight seasons and hadn't failed to make it past the last 16 since 2010.

The humiliating defeat to Ajax followed two demoralizing home losses to Barcelona — 1-0 in the Spanish league and 3-0 in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey.

Madrid, in its first season without Cristiano Ronaldo, hadn't lost a Champions League knockout tie since the 2015 semifinal against Juventus.

Ajax was playing in the last 16 for the first time since 2006.

 

Kane, Lloris seal Tottenham's progress in Champions League

Hugo Lloris and Harry Kane made sure there was no comeback for Borussia Dortmund as Tottenham reached the Champions League quarterfinals with a 1-0 win on Tuesday.

Kane's 49th-minute strike after Lloris had made a series of outstanding saves ensured the visitors completed a 4-0 win on aggregate after securing a comfortable lead in the first leg of their last-16 meeting.

Moussa Sissoko played the ball into Kane's path and the England striker, who missed the first leg with an ankle injury, picked his spot before dispatching an unstoppable effort past Roman Buerki in the Dortmund goal.

"Lloris was great. The mentality was good," Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino said. "We conceded more chances than we expected, but that is football. When you beat them 3-0 in the first leg, it's always difficult. There was nothing to lose for Borussia Dortmund, and they were taking a lot of risks."

In Tuesday's other game, Ajax knocked three-time defending champion Real Madrid out with a 4-1 away victory, progressing 5-3 on aggregate.

With Dortmund needing to overturn a three-goal deficit, the hosts duly dominated the game in terms of possession and chances, offering the visitors no respite.

"We created good chances. The only thing missing was the goal. Kane's goal pulled the plug," Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said.

Jan Vertonghen made a crucial interception to deny Marco Reus and Paco Alcacer went close before Lloris made a brilliant reflex save to thwart Reus' deflected shot.

Son Heung-min, who sparked Tottenham's win in the first leg, had the visitors' first big chance after half an hour played, but spurned the opportunity with Marius Wolf tracking back to put him off.

Dortmund responded with even more pressure. Julian Weigl, Reus, and Mario Goetze all went agonizingly close — the latter denied by a fingertip save from the outstanding Lloris.

It was the home side's ninth attempt on goal. By the time the first half ended, Dortmund was up to 11 — and still scoreless.

Reus flashed an effort across the face of goal as Dortmund started the second half in the same vein, but then Kane ended any remaining suspense.

It was the first goal Dortmund conceded at home in the competition this season.

United States international Christian Pulisic came on in the 62nd minute, his first appearance since injuring a thigh in the first leg on Feb. 13.

Dortmund, which has only one win from its last eight competitive games, has only the Bundesliga remaining. It still leads on goal difference from Bayern Munich, but only just after squandering what was once a nine-point lead.

"This should give us confidence for the championship," Zorc said of his side's remaining title ambitions.

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