Chelsea regained control of their Champions League destiny in dramatic fashion as Michy Batshuayi came off the bench to snatch victory against a dominant Ajax side in Amsterdam.
The potential pitfuls of such a fixture were well documented, and with good reason Ajax have continued on from where they left off last season and their ability to break out of a high press spelt danger for Frank Lampard’s side who have this season relied so heavily on their energy and intensity to win back possession high up the pitch.
The Blues’s underdog status was for much of the game more than warranted, as Ajax were able to loop crosses into the box for late runners to latch on to. Quincy Promes, in particular, found himself able to drift off the back of Cesar Azpilicueta, who for much of the first-half was caught ball watching. The Dutchman was then as drastically unlucky as Azpilicueta was relieved to see his goal ruled out for offside by a fraction of centimetres – VAR’s intervention seemingly more pedantic than effective as the linesman’s decision was once again undermined by the technology.
Chelsea looked far more resolute in the second half and chances were at a premium for both sides, this being said Batshuayi’s close-range drive off the crossbar stunned everyone in the stadium bar the man himself and echoed memories of his late winner against Atletico Madrid almost two years ago to the day.
