Second Leg Champions League Round of 16 End

"Arsenal pushes forward on the left flank, looking to penetrate the Ajax defense and enter the penalty area..."

But Heitinga, with perfect timing, steps in to make a crucial clearance, sending the ball out of danger. The crowd at Highbury holds its breath as Ajax quickly transitions from defense to attack.

"Ajax is on the counter now, this could be their chance..."

The ball is swiftly passed to the right, where Trabelsi is already on the move, surging up the flank with pace and intent.

...

The moment Yang Yang saw Heitinga gain control of the ball in the backline, his instincts kicked in, and he immediately started running. He wasn't just moving—he was hunting for an opportunity, eyes scanning the pitch for any weakness in Arsenal's defense.

He sprinted quickly to the right, hugging the sideline as he made himself available for Trabelsi. Sure enough, the Tunisian right-back saw Yang Yang's run and delivered a precise pass towards him, just near the center line. Noticing that Reyes hadn't tracked back immediately, Yang Yang made a split-second decision to continue driving forward.

As Yang Yang expertly controlled Trabelsi's pass with his chest, he could feel the presence of Ashley Cole closing in from behind. Even this late in the game, with over 80 minutes already played, Arsenal's left-back was still formidable. Since Yang Yang had come on, Cole had sacrificed his offensive ventures, focusing entirely on nullifying the young winger's threat.

Yang Yang felt Cole's pressure almost instantly—his strong physical presence, quick feet, and relentless harassment made it clear why Cole was considered one of the world's best left-backs. Every time Yang Yang tried to maneuver, Cole was there, making it difficult to maintain possession without feeling like the ball could be taken away at any moment.

Glancing forward, Yang Yang noticed Trabelsi making an overlapping run. The right-back was hesitating, though—Reyes was shadowing him, and the Spaniard's pace meant any mistake could lead to a dangerous Arsenal counterattack. Vieira was also charging over, recognizing that Reyes had failed to track back and anticipating a potential two-on-one situation. Yang Yang knew his window of opportunity was rapidly closing.

Without hesitation, Yang Yang passed the ball back to Trabelsi and immediately cut inside, sprinting laterally across the field. His unexpected movement caught Ashley Cole off guard, forcing him into a difficult decision. Yang Yang's run was taking him closer to Vieira, but if Cole followed, it would leave Trabelsi unmarked on the right. Conversely, if Cole stayed put, Yang Yang would have a clear path to receive the ball in a more central position—potentially facing Vieira one-on-one.

Cole chose to stay with Trabelsi, guarding against the right-back's advance. But Trabelsi, sharp and attuned to Yang Yang's intentions, didn't push forward. Instead, he sent a perfectly timed lofted pass over the defense, aiming for the space ahead of Yang Yang.

Yang Yang, who had been cutting inside, suddenly stopped, pivoted, and dashed forward between Campbell and Cole. The moment Trabelsi's pass soared overhead, Ashley Cole realized he'd been outwitted. He spun around, sprinting after Yang Yang, but fatigue was beginning to take its toll. After more than 80 minutes of intense play, his legs could no longer keep up with the fresh, determined Ajax winger.

Yang Yang was clever—he didn't try to control the ball immediately. Instead, he let Trabelsi's pass bounce twice before taking a touch to push it further ahead. This allowed him to maintain his speed and keep the ball within striking distance, all while staying just out of Cole's reach.

"The sideline referee's flag stays down!"

"Ajax's counterattack is onside! No offside!"

Yang Yang caught up with the ball on the right, with Arsenal's defense scrambling to recover. He could sense the urgency in their movements—every defender was rushing back, trying to close down the space. Ibrahimovic, Wesley Sonck, and Van der Vaart were all sprinting forward, converging on the penalty area. This was a rare opportunity—perhaps their last of the match.

"Yang Yang drives the ball towards the edge of the penalty area—what's he going to do next?"

With a quick glance up, Yang Yang saw Ibrahimovic positioned centrally, with Campbell and Kolo Touré desperately trying to mark him. Yang Yang whipped in a precise, curling cross with his right foot, sending the ball arcing towards the penalty spot.

"An inch-perfect cross into the box…"

Campbell lunged but couldn't make contact. Ibrahimovic, towering over the defenders, expertly trapped the ball with his chest, his back to goal. Kolo Touré was right behind him, applying pressure, but Ibrahimovic was composed. He knew there wasn't a clear shot on goal, so he chose to lay the ball off.

"Ibrahimovic turns his back to goal, chests it down… Kolo Touré is right on him…"

With a deft touch, Ibrahimovic played the ball back into the path of Van der Vaart, who had positioned himself just outside the penalty area. The Ajax captain took a quick sidestep, evading a lunging Gilberto Silva, and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot.

"Van der Vaart with a chance… he takes it on his left foot…"

"Goal!!! Goooooooooooooal!!!!!!"

"Rafael van der Vaart scores! What a strike!"

"In the 87th minute, Ajax's captain delivers a stunning curling shot from the edge of the penalty area, finding the back of the net with his left foot! This could be the decisive moment of the match!"

"This is a crucial goal, pulling the match level at 1-1 and swinging the aggregate score to 4-3 in Ajax's favor!"

"Wenger is furious on the sidelines—he can't believe his team allowed Ajax such an opening at this stage of the game."

As the commentator's voice reverberated through the stadium, the replays began to roll. "Let's take a look at that counterattack once more—absolutely brilliant from Ajax."

"Trabelsi's movement and Yang Yang's intelligent run created the perfect storm. Yang Yang's ability to deceive Ashley Cole and Vieira opened up Arsenal's defense just enough. Even though Cole and Vieira reacted swiftly, it wasn't enough to stop Yang Yang from capitalizing on the chance. His cross into the box was flawless, and Ibrahimovic's physicality completely outmatched Kolo Touré."

"Ibrahimovic's layoff was perfectly weighted, allowing Van der Vaart to strike the ball cleanly with his left foot, curling it beyond the reach of Lehmann and into the corner of the net."

"At such a critical moment, Van der Vaart remained calm under pressure, executing his shot with precision. 1-1!"

"Ajax has shown tremendous resilience. They were behind for nearly an hour, but even as the game neared its end, they refused to give up. Yang Yang's relentless work on the right flank has been instrumental, and Arsenal's defensive lapse is the ultimate reward for his perseverance. He seized the opportunity and delivered when it mattered most."

...

...

When Yang Yang, Van der Vaart, Ibrahimovic, Wesley Sonck, and Sneijder rushed to the sidelines, they gathered together in a jubilant celebration. The adrenaline was still pumping through their veins, but as they reveled in the moment, they were surprised to see head coach Ronald Koeman rushing into the huddle with them.

Koeman, usually composed and measured, was overtaken by pure ecstasy. He threw his arms around the players, his voice filled with triumph as he shouted, "I've been waiting for this! I've been waiting for this moment, and we finally got our chance!"

Separated by Yang Yang and Sneijder, Ibrahimovic and Van der Vaart exchanged glances. Despite their differences, the sheer joy of the moment united them. The Swedish striker had provided a brilliant assist, and Van der Vaart's finish had been nothing short of spectacular—a perfectly timed arc shot that left Lehmann no chance.

The entire Ajax squad, including De Jong and the others who had been on the bench, rushed to join the celebration. The touchline became a sea of red and white as the players embraced, cheered, and soaked in the glory of their hard-fought equalizer.

Meanwhile, Arsenal's players were growing increasingly frustrated. They hurried over to the referee, urging him to speed up the return of the Ajax players to their positions. The rules were clear—Ajax had to return to their own half before Arsenal could restart play.

Reluctantly, at the referee's insistence, the Ajax players began to disperse, making their way back onto the pitch. As they did, Ibrahimovic playfully grabbed Yang Yang by the head, giving him a mock scolding. "Next time, don't pass me a low-high ball like that," he grinned. "Last time it was too high, now this—are you trying to test me?"

Yang Yang laughed, not missing a beat. "Don't blame me if you didn't get into position on time!"

Ibrahimovic, still grinning, couldn't deny it. Kolo Touré might not have been as tall, but his physicality had forced Ibrahimovic into a less-than-ideal spot, making the chest trap necessary.

"Your assist was perfect, and Rafael's finish was world-class," Yang Yang said, still beaming. "You two made it happen!"

The tension between Ibrahimovic and Van der Vaart, though still palpable, began to thaw under the pressure of Yang Yang's encouragement. The two exchanged a look—an understanding, perhaps, that this was bigger than their rivalry.

Finally, with a slight hesitation, Van der Vaart extended his hand toward Ibrahimovic, shouting over the noise, "Thank you!"

Yang Yang nudged Ibrahimovic, urging him to respond. The Swedish striker hesitated, then took Van der Vaart's hand, his voice uncharacteristically soft. "No problem. I just want the team to win—I don't want to lose to Arsenal and Wenger."

"Same here," Van der Vaart replied, equally subdued.

The surrounding players, having witnessed the exchange, couldn't help but chuckle. It was a momentous handshake, one that had seemed impossible just minutes ago. These two had been at odds since the previous season, their rivalry so intense that it had even affected their on-field chemistry.

In the past, Ibrahimovic would have tried to score himself in such a situation, reluctant to pass to Van der Vaart. But tonight was different. Tonight, he chose to assist, and in doing so, he helped Ajax take a giant step forward.

Ronald Koeman, watching from the sidelines, nodded with satisfaction. This was what he had been striving for all along—a united team, with all its stars pulling in the same direction. It wasn't something he had been able to achieve on his own, but fate, and Yang Yang's involvement, had brought it to fruition.

As Ajax's celebration wound down, Arsenal's impatience grew. The referee signaled for the game to resume, and by then, the fourth official had already indicated three minutes of stoppage time. But before play could restart, Koeman made one final tactical move.

Vermaelen was brought on to replace Sneijder, a clear sign that Ajax was shifting to a more defensive stance. They intended to hold onto this result with everything they had.

Arsenal, desperate to overturn the aggregate score, launched a series of frantic attacks during the final minutes. Wave after wave of pressure descended upon the Ajax defense, but the Dutch team stood firm. Almost every Ajax player was now committed to defending, blocking shots, clearing crosses, and doing everything in their power to keep the ball out of their net. When they did gain possession, they skillfully delayed the game, holding onto the ball, slowing down the tempo, and frustrating the Arsenal players further.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the referee blew the final whistle.

Ajax had done it. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, but with a 4-3 aggregate score, Ajax had eliminated Arsenal from the Champions League. The underdogs from Amsterdam had defied the odds, overcoming one of Europe's giants to secure their place in the quarterfinals.