Match ends, Ajax 0, Valencia 1.
AjaxAjax0ValenciaValencia1
Last season's Champions League semi-finalists Ajax were knocked out in the group stages as Valencia progressed instead with victory at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Rodrigo scored the only goal midway through the first half as he blasted into the roof of the net from Ferran Torres' clever pass.
Ajax desperately pushed for the equaliser they needed with Lisandro Martinez and Hakim Ziyech forcing late saves from Valencia keeper Jaume Domenech.
Valencia had defender Gabriel sent off in injury time for clashing heads with Dusan Tadic in a very tense finale in Amsterdam.
Ajax were seconds away from reaching last year's final before Lucas Moura's injury-time strike sent Tottenham to the final instead.
Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt were among the stars of that team to leave last summer and they have not been the same since.
Two defeats at home - by Chelsea and Valencia - and a 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge have ultimately cost them.
Valencia go through as group winners, with Chelsea in second after their 2-1 win over Lille. Ajax drop into the Europa League last 32.
Line-ups
Ajax
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 24OnanaBooked at 81mins
- 12Mazraoui
- 3Veltman
- 17Blind
- 31TagliaficoBooked at 79minsSubstituted forde Jongat 89'minutes
- 4ÁlvarezBooked at 10minsSubstituted forDestat 45'minutes
- 21Li Martínez
- 22Ziyech
- 6van de BeekBooked at 83mins
- 27LangSubstituted forHuntelaarat 70'minutes
- 10TadicBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 1Semedo Varela
- 2Schuurs
- 9Huntelaar
- 15de Jong
- 18Marin
- 23Traoré
- 28Dest
Valencia
Formation 4-4-2
- 1DoménechBooked at 79mins
- 18Wass
- 5GabrielBooked at 90mins
- 12Diakhaby
- 14Gayá
- 20F TorresSubstituted forMangalaat 90+5'minutes
- 17Coquelin
- 10ParejoBooked at 81mins
- 8Soler
- 9GameiroSubstituted forVallejo Galvánat 54'minutesBooked at 86mins
- 19Rodrigo
Substitutes
- 2Correia
- 3Costa
- 4Mangala
- 15Vallejo Galván
- 28Rivero
- 34Esquerdo
- 38Gozalbez Gilabert
- Referee:
- Clément Turpin
- Attendance:
- 51,931
Match Stats
Home TeamAjaxAway TeamValencia
- Possession
- Home64%
- Away36%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away3
- Corners
- Home13
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home20
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Ajax 0, Valencia 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Rodrigo Moreno (Valencia) left footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, Valencia. Eliaquim Mangala replaces Ferrán Torres.
Booking
Dusan Tadic (Ajax) is shown the yellow card.
Dismissal
Gabriel Paulista (Valencia) is shown the red card for violent conduct.
Post update
Corner, Ajax. Conceded by Gabriel Paulista.
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Corner, Ajax. Conceded by Jaume Doménech.
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Attempt saved. Hakim Ziyech (Ajax) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Noussair Mazraoui with a cross.
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Lisandro Martínez (Ajax) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Carlos Soler (Valencia).
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Attempt saved. Lisandro Martínez (Ajax) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Ajax. Siem de Jong replaces Nicolás Tagliafico.
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Foul by Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Ajax).
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Mouctar Diakhaby (Valencia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Manu Vallejo (Valencia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Noussair Mazraoui (Ajax) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Manu Vallejo (Valencia).
Post update
Corner, Ajax. Conceded by Daniel Parejo.
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Noussair Mazraoui (Ajax) wins a free kick in the defensive half.