Tottenham toil as Ajax gain advantage in Champions League semi-final

Tottenham will have it all to do in Amsterdam next week if they are to keep their Champions League dream alive as Ajax claimed a 1-0 win in the semi-final first leg.

But bigger questions will be asked of Spurs' medical team after they allowed Jan Vertonghen to return to the field after a nasty head injury.

Van De Beek's goal sealed the win. Credit: PA

The Belgium defender was given the all-clear by the doctors but was barely able to walk moments later and was escorted off.

That soured Spurs' night even further as they went down to Donny Van De Beek's first-half goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Ziyech was on top form for Ajax. Credit: PA

This was just their second ever European Cup semi-final, and 57 years since their last one, but they are not out of it as they showed that this excellent Ajax side can be got at, even if they did not force goalkeeper Andre Onana into a meaningful save.

They will have Son Heung-min, and maybe Harry Kane, back for the second leg and they will have no option but to go for it in the Dutch capital.

Ajax's youngsters were on top form. Credit: PA

Erik Ten Hag's side showed glimpses of exactly why they have beaten Real Madrid and Juventus en route to the last four as they cut Spurs open in the opening 20 minutes and Van De Beek capitalised on a defensive lapse to put the Dutch side ahead.

He found himself right on the cusp of an offside decision that wasn't given to coolly slot low past Hugo Lloris.Ajax could have put one foot in the final, but David Neres' second-half shot hit the post.