Nunez and Benfica surprise Ajax to advance in the Champions League

AMSTERDAM (AP) — Darwin Núñez scored a goal in the final stage and Benfica beat Ajax 1-0 on Tuesday to reach the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in six years, ending a smooth run at the European competition for the Dutch team.

Uruguay scored as a header for 77 minutes after a free kick on the right, which helped Benfica reach the top 8 teams in the contest for the fifth time.

The team tied 2-2 in the first leg match held in Portugal.

Two European champions, Benfica began his football year in the third qualifying round. In 2016 he was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Bayern Munich.

Ajax was one of the three teams that won six games in the group stage with Liverpool and Bayern. The Dutch team went to the 16th round for the second time since 2006, but finally reached the semi-finals three seasons ago.

With this victory, Benfica came out in a 1-1 draw at home on Friday with Vizela in the Portuguese league, but extended his winning streak with 8 matches in all competitions.