UCL: Matip’s late goal sends Liverpool back to winning ways
Joël Matip was the hero at Anfield as he scored a late winner for Liverpool to defeat Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey’s Ajax 2-1 in their second group game of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night.
It was a bounceback for Liverpool following the shambolic 4-1 defeat at the hands of Napoli in their opening Champions League group game last week.
Bassey played the full ninety minutes but he couldn’t save his team from a defeat at the hands of the six-time winners of the competition.
Liverpool immediately hit the ground running at the blow of the kick-off whistle, with Mohamed Salah bursting into runs and threatening Ajax’s defence.
Breakthrough for Liverpool happened in seventeen minutes into the match when Diogo Jota assisted Salah to put The Reds ahead.
The goal ended Salah’s seven games goalless run in the competition which dates back to February.
It wasn’t long after the opener that Mohammed Kudus equalised for Ajax with a clinical finish to continue his impressive start to the season. He was assisted by former Spurs forward Steven Berghuis.
Alexander-Arnold curled the ball into the Ajax’s for Van Dijk. The defender targeted the far post with a header but Pasveer saved the ball to deny Liverpool a lead again in the 35th minute.
Ajax’s goalkeeper Pasveer put on an impressive performance as the first half ended 1-1.
In the opening two minutes of the second half, Diaz mishandled the ball and Bergwijn got hold of it and launched a pass to Kudus who went down under pressure from Salah inside Liverpool’s box.
Ajax players called for a penalty but the referee waved it off for action to continue.
In the 75th minute, Ajax came close to grabbing the lead but Tadic narrowly missed going into the net.
Liverpool left it late as Tsimikas found Matip with a perfect cross and the defender headed the ball over the line to finally break the composed Ajax’s defence.
It was the last major action in the second of the Group A fixture as Liverpool walked away with an important 2-1 victory to record their first win in the competition.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
States
Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future
The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Sport
Man City lose to Nottingham Forest as Arsenal pip Hull City to extend lead on EPL table
Jair Cunha opened the scoring in the 6th minute, while Liam Delap made it two for Nottingham Forest in the 18th minute.
Africa
Ghana police arrest 57-year-old man for alleged shoplifting
The suspect was arrested on Thursday by the Somanya District Police Command.
States
Army seeks traditional rulers’ intervention to tackle crime in Plateau
The commander assured the monarch of a comprehensive assessment of the challenges.
States
Police arrest two suspects over drug supply, rescue 17 minors in Bauchi
Mr Habib said police operatives conducted a search and recovered 12 packs of rubber solution from the suspects.
States
South-East commission delivers relief materials to Abia flood victims
Mr Ogbede said the donation also included diapers for children and sanitary pads for mothers affected by the flooding.
States
Niger: Woman allegedly poisons co-wife’s children over inability to bear child
The police arrested a woman for allegedly poisoning her co-wife’s children in Takuti village, Lapai Local Government Area.
