For the Ajax Women, the match in the Johan Cruijff ArenA was the first one on the highest European level. The UEFA Women’s Champions League layout was changed three years ago, and the group stage was introduced. Before that, the tournament only knew a knock-out phase. The Ajax Women were the first Dutch team to place itself for the group stage.
The first half hour in the Johan Cruijff ArenA had little going on. Paris Saint-Germain seemed the most dominant team, but the Ajax Women kept the French away from the goal. The most dangerous chance was a header by Tabitha Chawinga. She headed the ball on the crossbar from a distance.
Because Paris Saint-Germain barely posed a threat, the Ajacieden started to believe in their own success more and more. Suzanne Bakker’s team started to play football more opportunistically, which was rewarded. A distance shot by Nadine Noordam changed direction and fell in front of Tiny Hoekstra. She shot the ball behind Constance Picaud from a difficult angle: 1-0.
Before half-time, the euphoria became even more. After a blunt foul by Clare Hunt on Ashleigh Weerden in the penalty area resulted in a penalty. Captain Spitse made her way to the spot and flawlessly scored the 2-0.
Also, in the second half, the Ajax Women were not impressed by the runner-up from France. The biggest chances were, again, for the Amsterdam-based team. Hoekstra got close to scoring but missed.
The most significant opportunity for the French came twenty minutes before full-time. After a few struggles in the penalty area, Korbin Albert created a chance. The Norwegian bolted the ball towards the goal, making it impossible for Regina van Eijk to stop it at once. The ball appeared to go into the goal through her hands, but the Ajax goalkeeper recovered quickly and pushed the ball away from the goal line.
In the final phase of the match, the Ajax Women came close to scoring 3-0 through Hoekstra. A French defender blocked her effort. By the 2-0 victory, history repeated itself. In 1994, the Ajax men’s team won their first Champions League in the club's history with the same numbers. They beat AC Milan 2-0 in the Olympic Stadium.
Ajax Vrouwen – Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 (2-0)
34. Hoekstra 1-0
45+1. Spitse (pen.) 2-0
Ajax Vrouwen: Van Eijk; Kardinaal (67. Keijzer), Spitse, De Sanders, Weerden; Noordam (67. Van de Velde), Van Gool (78. Noordman), Yohannes (78. Sabajo); Grant, Leuchter, T. Hoekstra (85. I. Hoekstra)
