 Johan Cruyff about to strike the ball, with defenderTommy Smith nearby | |||||||
| Event | 1966–67 European Cup second round first leg | ||||||
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| Date | 7 December 1966 | ||||||
| Venue | Olympic Stadium,Amsterdam | ||||||
| Referee | Antonio Sbardella (Italy) | ||||||
| Attendance | 55,722 | ||||||
Ajax 5–1 Liverpool was afootball match betweenAjax andLiverpool on 7 December 1966 at theOlympic Stadium inAmsterdam, Netherlands. It was the first leg of a second round tie in the1966–67 European Cup. The match was given the Dutch titleDe Mistwedstrijd (pronounced[dəˈmɪstˌʋɛt.strɛit]; "The Fog Match") as it was played in dense fog.
Ajax were competing in theEuropean Cup for the third time, they had qualified as winners of the1965–66 Eredivisie. They were drawn against Turkish teamBeşiktaş in the first round, who they beat 4–1 over two-legs. This was Liverpool's second appearance in the European Cup: they had reached the semi-finals during the1964–65 season, losing to eventual winnersInternazionale. Their opponents in the first round werePetrolul Ploiești of Romania, whom they beat 2–0 in a play-off match after the two-leg tie resulted in a 3–3 scoreline.
Watched by a crowd of 55,722, Ajax took the lead in the third minute whenCees de Wolf scored. They extended their lead in the 17th minute courtesy of aJohan Cruyff goal. Two more goals scored by forwardKlaas Nuninga meant Ajax had a 4–0 lead at half-time. Ajax further extended their lead in the second half with a goal byHenk Groot. Liverpool only managed a late consolation goal when defenderChris Lawler scored in the 89th minute, and the game ended 5–1 to Ajax. The spectators could not really see much of the match due to the fog's density and at times could only tell by the celebration of the team when a goal was scored.
A 2–2 draw in the second leg meant that Ajax progressed to the quarter-finals courtesy of a 7–3 aggregate victory. They would lose to Czech sideDukla Prague 3–2 over two legs. The match marked the emergence of Ajax in European football, two seasons later they reached the final, but lost4–1 toMilan. They would go on to win the European Cup three consecutive times in the early 1970s. The match represents Liverpool's record defeatin European competition.
Both teams had qualified for the European Cup by winning their respective national league championships. Ajax won the1965–66 Eredivisie, finishing seven points ahead of second-placedFeyenoord.[1] Liverpool qualified by winning the1965–66 Football League First Division, six points ahead of second-placedLeeds United.[2]
Ajax faced Turkish teamBeşiktaş in the first round of the European Cup. They won the first leg 2–0 at theOlympic Stadium, courtesy of goals fromPiet Keizer andBennie Muller. The second leg in Turkey finished 2–1 to Ajax, with goals from Keizer andSjaak Swart. Ajax won the tie 4–1 on aggregate to progress to the second round. Liverpool were drawn against Romanian teamPetrolul Ploiești in the first round, and won the first leg at their home groundAnfield, courtesy of goals fromIan St. John andIan Callaghan. Petrolul Ploiești won the second leg 3–1 in Romania to level the tie at 3–3 after the two matches. The tie would be decided by a play-off match, which Liverpool 2–0 to progress to the second round.[3]
Ajax had little successin European competition prior to their meeting with Liverpool. They had qualified for theEuropean Cup Winners' Cup twice during the1960–61 and1961–62 seasons, but did not progress past the first round either time. Liverpool had onlyparticipated in European competition during the previous two season, but they had more success than Ajax. Their first season of competition in1964–65 they reached the semi-finals of the European Cup, losing to eventual winnersInternazionale.[4] Thefollowing season they reached the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup, however, they lost2–1 against German teamBorussia Dortmund.[5]
Liverpool were among the favourites to win the competition while Ajax were virtually unknown outside of the Netherlands. Liverpool managerBill Shankly had made a scouting trip to watch Ajax before the match and witnessing them lose to lowly opposition returned confident Liverpool would progress.[6] A few of Liverpool's players, including strikerRoger Hunt, were part ofEngland's victoriousWorld Cup campaign in 1966. Ajax were coming out of a poor period, after they had finished in 13th place in the1964–65 Eredivisie, while theNetherlands national team had yet to make an impression on the international stage. The board of Ajax decided to hireRinus Michels. He changed the team'sformation to a 4–2–4, with an emphasis on passing and possession of the ball. The team showed improvement, winning the Eredivisie in his first full season in charge.[7]
Ajax normally played their home matches at theDe Meer Stadion. However, as demand for tickets to watch the match was high, it was switched to the higher-capacityOlympic Stadium. Amsterdam suffered from heavy fog in the 24 hours before the match was due to start, and with the fog not abating before kick-off, it was debated whether to go ahead with the match. One option was to postpone the match, which Liverpool managerBill Shankly favoured. He was less keen on the match being replayed the next day as Liverpool were scheduled to faceManchester United in the next few days.[8] The refereeAntonio Sbardella decided to go ahead with the match, despite visibility reportedly being down to 50 yards (46 m).[9]
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Ajax opened the scoring in the third minute whenCees de Wolf, who was making his debut for Ajax, scored. A throw-in by Cruyff was headed into the air, Liverpool goalkeeperTommy Lawrence came to collect the ball. Realising he could not reach it, he moved back towards his goal, but de Wolf outjumped defenderChris Lawler to head the ball into the Liverpool goal.[10] The conditions were so poor, that the crowd celebrated in stages. Those closest to the goal celebrated immediately, while those at the other end of the stadium reacted to these celebrations.[8] Liverpool striker Hunt had a chance to score in the 12th minute, but his shot was saved by Ajax goalkeeperGert Bals.[11] Following the goal Ajax continued to attack, midfielderSjaak Swart ran past three Liverpool players before passing the ball toKlaas Nuninga, whose shot was saved by Liverpool goalkeeper Lawrence. However, Lawrence dropped the ball nearJohan Cruyff, who scored to give Ajax a 2–0 lead.[12]
The conditions were so bad that when Liverpool coachBob Paisley came onto the pitch to attend to an injured player, Shankly entered as well. He managed to give instructions to his players before he was spotted by the officials and ordered off the field.[9] Ajax playerWim Suurbier was carried off with a damaged ankle midway through the first half. He returned to the pitch, but suffered from a limp.[10] Ajax extended their lead in the 39th minute. Liverpool defenderTommy Smith fouled Cruyff outside the Liverpool penalty area. The subsequent free-kick taken byFrits Soetekouw was not cleared by the Liverpool defence and the ball rebounded to Nuninga, who scored to give Ajax a 3–0 lead.[10] The conditions did not only affect the Liverpool players. Towards the end of the first half, the referee blew his whistle. Swart, assuming that he had signalled half-time began to walk off the pitch, was stopped by a steward who pointed out that the match was still ongoing. He re-entered the pitch, received the ball and crossed the ball for Nuninga, who scored to make it 4–0.[13]
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Liverpool came out in the second half determined to atone for their first-half performance. They forced Ajax into their own half of the pitch for majority of the second half but were unable to make their advantage count.[9] Smith had a chance to score 25 yards (23 m) from the Ajax goal, but his shot was saved by Bals.[10] DefenderRon Yeats also had a chance to score in the 61st minute, but his header was stopped by Bals.[10] A minute later Smith was cautioned for a foul on Nuninga and Ajax'sBennie Muller was also booked in the 70th minute.[11]
Liverpool had another chance to score in the 73rd minute, butGeoff Strong's shot following a corner went over the crossbar.[11] Ajax extended their lead towards the end of the half when they counter-attacked and scored courtesy of Groot. Liverpool managed to score in the last minute through Lawler, but they were unable to score any further goals and lost the match 5–1.[9]
     Ajax |    Liverpool |
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Following the first leg, Shankly was adamant that Liverpool would still progress: "This tie is by no means over yet. We will win easily. We will smash in at least seven goals. This was ridiculous. Ajax played defensive football on their own ground. We never play well against defensive teams."[9] Such was the shock at the result that Shankly's claim was taken seriously.[14] The defeat convinced Shankly that adopting Ajax's patient, passing style was the key to success in Europe.[15] The defeat is still Liverpool's record defeat in European competition.[16] Michels was worried that Liverpool might adopt aggressive tactics in the second leg: "Our fear is that Liverpool may try to eliminate us through rough play. They showed some of this rough play in the first leg and they will play even harder in front of their own supporters". He also admitted that his side had some luck in the first leg but was adamant they would progress: "There are not many great players in this Liverpool side, but they are all fighters. I agree we had some luck in Amsterdam, but I am sure we will go through."[17]
Liverpool had early chances in the second leg with midfielderPeter Thompson and defenderGeoff Strong hitting the frame of the goal.[18] The first half finished goalless, but Ajax opened the scoring in the 49th minute when Cruyff scored. Liverpool striker Hunt equalised a few minutes later, but Liverpool conceded again when Cruyff scored a second goal. Hunt scored towards the end of the match, but they were unable to beat Ajax and the match finished 2–2. They progressed to the quarter-finals courtesy of a 7–3 aggregate victory.[9] During the early stages of the match, there was a crush on theSpion Kop. As fans struggled to see the match due to a low-hanging haze, people at the back pressed forward for a better view. This resulted in supporters at the front being swept off their feet and spilling onto the pitch. Over 200 people were injured, with 31 taken to hospital.[19]
Michels stated that the victory was proof that Ajax could match teams in Europe: "The Liverpool game was for me an important moment to be acknowledged and recognised internationally. Not only the first game, because that could have been an accident – with the weather conditions etc. No, the performance we achieved in Liverpool under bad circumstances – I've never seen such a hectic situation. We drew that game 2–2 and never really had problems. For me, it was the proof that we were at the international level."[20]
Ajax were drawn againstDukla Prague of Czechoslovakia in the quarter-finals. The first leg finished 1–1 in the Netherlands, but Ajax lost the second leg 2–1 at theStadion Juliska inPrague. Thus, they lost the tie 3–2 on aggregate.[14] Following the match, Michels decided to reshape his team. He moved defenderTon Pronk into midfield and sold his captainFrits Soetekouw, who had scored anown goal in the second leg, to rivalsPSV Eindhoven, signingVelibor Vasović fromPartizan as his replacement. The changes had the desired effect as Ajax won the Eredivisie four times between 1966 and 1970. They also reached the final of the1968–69 European Cup, but lost4–1 to Italian teamMilan.[21] The team's style, known asTotal Football, would come to fruition in the 1970s as Ajax won three consecutive European Cups from 1971 to 1973. Total Football was also implemented by theNetherlands national football team, who reached the final of theFIFA World Cup in1974 and1978, losing on both occasions.[7]
The teams did not meet again until they were drawn together in the2020–21 UEFA Champions League group stage. Liverpool won both matches 1–0.[22][23] The teams were drawn together again in the2022-23 UEFA Champions League group stage, with Liverpool winning both matches again, 2–1 at Anfield and 3–0 at theJohan Cruyff Arena.
