AJAX WIN IT AT THE DEATH! INCREDIBLE! 1-0 to the hosts! A dreadful error from Conti, who fails to make contact with his attempted clearance, which allows Neres through down the left. The substitute pulls it back into the centre, where it eventually breaks for Mazraoui, and his strike deflects off Grimaldo and beyond a wrong-footed Vlachodimos!
90'
F. Cervi enters the game and replaces Rafa.
A second change for Benfica sees Rafa, who is in no rush to depart, replaced by Cervi.
There will be just three minutes added on at the end of this match. Is there time left for a winner?!
88'
David Neres enters the game and replaces D. van de Beek.
Ajax make their first change of the night and it's a positive one, but is it too late? Neres comes on for an added threat in attack, replacing Van de Beek.
87'
DEFLECTED OVER! Jardel deflects Ziyech's cross straight into the path of De Jong just inside the penalty area, but the midfielder's effort is crucially blocked over the bar by Conti!
86'
H. Seferović gets yellow.
This time the referee does produce a yellow, but it's for Seferovic, who commits a tired foul on Ziyech higher up the pitch.
85'
He's a lucky boy! Jardel commits a very cynical foul to trip up Dolberg, who was trying to turn to play in Ziyech in all sorts of space to his right. The centre-back is already on a yellow, but the referee doesn't produce a second here!
84'
Benfica are inviting Ajax forward, as they're not pressing at all to win the ball back high up the pitch, so as not to be drawn out of their shape. They remain very well organised, with Ajax struggling to break them down here.
82'
Into the final 10 minutes now as time is running out for these sides to find a winner. Benfica have settled into defence, appearing content to leave Amsterdam with a point, while Ajax aren't looking keen to settle.
79'
Gabriel Pires enters the game and replaces Pizzi.
Pizzi's night comes to an end with just over 10 minutes to play, as Gabriel comes on to replace him for some fresh legs in midfield.
Minute
Description
78'
Incredible pressure mounting on the Benfica goal now as Ajax have set up camp in attack. The hosts are not afraid here to commit bodies forward in search of a winner, but they're being thwarted time and time again by the expertise of Vlachodimos.
76'
Another smart save! Pizzi trips up Ziyech from behind to concede a free-kick in a very dangerous position, just over 20 yards from the Benfica goal. It's Ziyech who takes this time, but it's too close to Vlachodimos who manages to parry despite seeing it late.
72'
E. Salvio gets yellow.
Incredibly cynical from Salvio who actually trips De Jong to ground with his arm, reaching out and swatting at the midfielder's legs. He picks up an obvious yellow for that one.
68'
Some respite for Benfica as they get forward and win a corner, but it amounts to nothing as Seferovic can't keep his header down and the chance is gone. Substitutes are warming up for both sides right now - who will be the first to flinch?
67'
Again straight at the keeper! Ajax continue to press, but the end product has been lacking. This time Ziyech shoots straight into the waiting arms of Vlachodimos, with his weaker right foot, from 20 yards.
65'
Straight at Vlachodimos! That's disappointing in the end from Schone, who generates good contact from his free-kick but fails to put it either side of the keeper. He's scored some wonderful free-kick goals in his day, and the home supporters were really hoping he would add to his resume there.
64'
G. Conti gets yellow.
Conti is booked for a bad foul, meaning both Benfica centre-backs have been cautioned. Ajax have a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area to work with, as well...
60'
Pressure continues to build on the Benfica goal as Ajax set up camp in attack, with the crowd in full voice behind them. It remains brilliantly poised in Amsterdam, and is shaping up to be quite the finish!
56'
He's skied it! Lovely passage of play from Tadic down the left, as he skips beyond a couple of defenders before laying off for Van de Beek. The midfielder has a decent sight of goal from the edge of the penalty area, as he shoots for the far corner, but blazes his effort over the bar!
53'
Play resumes with Onana fine to continue. Ziyech makes waves in attack with some lovely footwork, but he just can't thread a ball through for Dolberg at the end of it. Back the other way come Benfica, but De Jong does excellently to track the run of Fernandes and deny the midfielder a break.
50'
Chaos in the Ajax penalty area as Onana collides with Jardel with the ball in the air, before the ball is dangerously headed back towards the Ajax goal, where Onana needs to scramble to collect.
49'
N. Tagliafico gets yellow.
Tagliafico just catches Fernandes late with his slide, and is issued a yellow card for the foul. A dangerous free-kick to come for Benfica...
48'
It's been a cagey start to the second half with both sides penalised for fouls in midfield. Each team enjoyed spells on top in that first half, with Ajax the more assertive of the two, but the match is certainly there for the taking. Who will go and snatch it?
46'
Back underway in Amsterdam - everything still to play for!
45' +1
HALF-TIME: AJAX 0-0 BENFICA.
44'
Benfica were just enjoying a good spell on top before that massive chance for Ajax. Both teams have come close on a few occasions, yet somehow it remains goalless with half-time imminent.
42'
Three of Ajax’s four Champions League goals this season have been scored by defenders.
40'
HOW HAS THAT NOT GONE IN?! Ziyech's corner is met by De Ligt at the far post, who knocks it back across goal for Tagliafico, who hooks an effort over the keeper, but Conti miraculously keeps it out off the line! Ajax think it has gone in, but replays show only half the ball had crossed the line!
39'
A. Onana gets yellow.
Onana is booked for dissent after breating the assistant referee behind the goal.
38'
Vital block! That's a crucial piece of defending from Tadic, who gets back to parry Seferovic's effort from in close following a deflected effort that fell kindly for the striker after a giveaway by Schone. It's all happening again in Amsterdam, as they go back and forth here!
36'
Vlachodimos tested again! This one not as routine for the keeper, but still not the most difficult of stops as he gets down well to parry Van de Beek's blistering effort from 25 yards that was headed into the bottom corner. It's just starting to come to life again as half-time approaches.
34'
A pair of chances for Seferovic, as Benfica reintroduce themselves in attack, but the striker fails to hit the target on both occasions. First he drags an effort wide of the far post from 12 yards and a difficult angle, before firing over moments later from 25 yards.
32'
De Ligt flashes a bit of attacking prowess, as he ventures forward on an enterprising run, skipping past defenders before driving a low strike towards goal which Vlachodimos saves quite easily.
30'
De Jong is pulling the strings in midfield for Ajax, and remains the focal point with Ajax in possession. The match is certainly taking a bit of a breather now, though, with the tempo slowing down drastically compared to a lively opening 15 minutes.
28'
Possession remains firmly with Ajax here, as they continue to keep Benfica hemmed back in their end. The hosts are up to 65 per cent possession now, with Benfica's attacking threat really fizzling out over the last 15 minutes.
24'
Ajax have definitely taken charge here, showing plenty of intent as they hunt for an opener. There's a good width about them, and they remain very direct in possession, which is keeping Benfica on their heels.
22'
N. Mazraoui gets yellow.
Mazraoui fouls Grimaldo with a late foul in an attempt to win the ball back and keep the pressure on, which sees him into the book.
21'
A shooting chance for Ziyech presents the Morocco international with yet another opportunity to open the score, but he sends a blistering effort straight at Vlachodimos from 25 yards on the end of a tidy move.
18'
OFFSIDE! Only just, from Van de Beek, who hits the post with his eventual effort, but he had already strayed behind the defence before Ziyech's pass was threaded through.
17'
This looks a very tenacious Ajax side tonight, getting after every ball as they press high up the pitch to try and quickly win back possession when they give it away. They certainly aren't lacking in confidence, either, with many of their players keen to play on the ball.
15'
Benfica respond with a decent spell of their own in possession. These sides appear very evenly matched from top to bottom, and it's already making for a fascinating encounter.
13'
Things have settled down since the frantic opening, with Ajax starting to command more possession as they adopt a more patient approach in possession. Benfica are better organising themselves now, however, getting bodies back to clog up the defensive third.
9'
Jardel gets yellow.
Clever passing through midfield has Benfica stretched in defence, and the experienced Jardel commits a professional foul to halt the run of Dolberg - but that will see him into the book. It's an early yellow for the skipper, who will be walking a tight line the rest of the way.
7'
It's been a wonderfully enterprising start from both sides, each keen to grab that pivotal first goal. The result has been a frenetic, end-to-end pace, which has made for a brilliant watch!
1'
AND THEY'RE OFF! Ajax get the match underway! The hosts are unusually sporting their black and gold away strip, as their red and white home kit too closely matched all three of Benfica's options. The visitors are in red tops and white shorts.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of this Champions League match as Ajax welcome Benfica to Johan Cruyff Arena!
With Bayern Munich considered runaway favourites in Group E, Ajax and Benfica were touted as the two likely left battling it out for second and a place in the knockout stage – but no one seemed to tell that to the Amsterdam outfit.
Ajax followed a resounding 3-0 victory over AEK Athens with a shock draw at Bayern, as they enter matchday three atop the group, knowing victory here would massively boost their chances of reaching the last 16 for the first time since 2006.
Benfica have been far less convincing, losing their opener 2-0 at home to Bayern before narrowly escaping their trip to Athens with a 3-2 win – ending a skit of eight successive defeats in the Champions League proper.
Expectations are higher than they have been in a while for these prestigious clubs, and while the pressure will be on Benfica tonight to avoid falling into to big a hole, Ajax will be plenty motivated by the knowledge that victory will have them on the verge of a knockout berth.
CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS:
AJAX (4-3-3): Andre Onana; Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, Daley Blind, Nicolas Tagliafico; Frenkie de Jong, Lasse Schone, Donny van de Beek; Hakim Ziyech, Dusan Tadic, Kasper Dolberg.
SUBS: Kostas Lamprou, Rasmus Kristensen, Maximilian Wober, David Neres, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Carel Eiting, Dani de Wit.
BENFICA (4-2-3-1): Odisseas Vlachodimos; Andre Almeida, German Conti, Jardel, Alejandro Grimaldo; Lubomir Fejsa, Gedson Fernandes; Eduardo Salvio, Pizzi, Rafa; Haris Seferovic.
Goalless at the break in Amsterdam, but it certainly hasn't been for a lack of chances. Both sides saw efforts cleared off the line - Matthijs de Ligt and German Conti coming to the rescue of their respective sides - while Odisseas Vlachodimos and Andre Onana producing fine saves to deny Rafa and Kasper Dolberg, respectively.
Both managers will have to be pleased with how those opening 45 minutes unfolded, and will each sense the three points are there for the taking. There likely will not be any changes at the break as a result, except perhaps for Andre Almeida who appeared to tweak his hamstring right at the end of that first half.
The two sides will meet again in the return fixture at the start of November in Lisbon, in what is now a must-win for Benfica. That's all for our live coverage, thanks for following along. Goodbye!
An incredible finish in Amsterdam as Ajax snatch three points at the death through Noussair Mazraoui to stay top of Group E and take a massive step towards progressing to the knockout stage! It was a highly entertaining match which was really deserving of a goal in the end, with Ajax eventually rewarded for their persistence in attack as a kind defelction finally helps them solve Odisseas Vlachodimos, who was excellent for Benfica in goal.
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