After taking the lead, Ajax played with even greater confidence.
Anyone could see that Ajax had gone from victory to victory since Yang Yang took charge.
Since the start of the season, apart from a 2–2 away draw with Standard Liège and a goalless draw at Dynamo Kyiv, Ajax had won every match, including their 3–1 comeback victory away to Bayern Munich in midweek.
That winning run, capped by the comeback in Munich, had sent Ajax's morale soaring. When they arrived at the Philips Stadium to face an Eindhoven side fresh from a 4–0 thrashing by Barcelona, they descended on their opponents like tigers on sheep.
After scoring, Ajax kept up their relentless attacks on Eindhoven.
First, Ødegaard delivered a cross from the right, and Jović directed a close-range header toward the far corner. It slipped just past the left post, giving everyone a fright.
Soon afterward, Malen broke down the left to win a corner, causing chaos in Eindhoven's penalty area. Militão and Jović fired off shots in quick succession, both blocked by defenders, before Schöne unleashed a surprise effort from outside the box that struck the post and rebounded.
Before long, Malen again used his pace to power past his marker on the left and send in a cross.
The ball dropped near the edge of the penalty arc, where Van de Beek charged forward and struck a sudden volley that flew just wide.
In the forty-first minute, Ajax won possession high up the pitch once again.
Rosario picked up the ball within thirty meters of Eindhoven's goal, shook off a defender, and unleashed another unexpected long-range shot.
It was an excellent strike, hit with real pace.
Goalkeeper Zoet threw himself at it but failed to hold on, spilling the ball.
Jović reacted quickly, darting forward to