Amsterdam Arena
August 9, 2017
The days between the Nice away leg and the home match passed in a blur of training, recovery, and nervous energy. Ajax held a slender advantage—the 1-1 draw meant they only needed a score draw at home to advance.
But European football was unpredictable. One mistake, one brilliant moment from Balotelli, and everything could collapse.
The Amsterdam Arena buzzed with anticipation. 52,000 fans packed the stadium—a sellout crowd for a Wednesday evening. The atmosphere was electric, the famous Ajax faithful creating a wall of red and white.
Andrei arrived with the squad three hours before kickoff, following the established routine. Team meal (pasta, chicken, vegetables), tactical meeting (reviewing Nice's likely setup), individual preparation (stretching, mental visualization), warm-up.
Bosz announced the starting lineup thirty minutes before kickoff. Andrei listened intently.
"Same team as Nice, except..." Bosz paused. "Andrei, you're starting for Amin on the left. You've earned it."
His heart stopped. Starting. In a Champions League qualifier. At the Amsterdam Arena.
System Alert:
Career-Defining Moment
Pressure Level: MAXIMUM
Current Composure: 62.8/99
Warning: Performance under extreme scrutiny
In the tunnel, waiting to walk out, Andrei could hear the crowd through the concrete—a constant roar of anticipation. Beside him stood Nice's players, experienced professionals who'd played in Ligue 1, some in international competitions.
The referee signaled. The teams walked out into the cauldron of noise.
The Amsterdam Arena at full capacity was overwhelming—the sound physical, pressing against him from all sides. The Ajax fans sang, waved flags, created a sea of red and white that seemed to pulse with collective heartbeat.
Ajax Starting XI (4-3-3):
GK: André Onana
DEF: Joël Veltman, Davinson Sánchez, Matthijs de Ligt, Jaïro Riedewald
MID: Frenkie de Jong, Lasse Schöne, Donny van de Beek
FWD: Hakim Ziyech, Kasper Dolberg, Andrei Luca
Kickoff.
Ajax attacked from the first whistle. The crowd demanded it, the tactical situation encouraged it. Nice set up defensively, content to protect their away goal and hit on counters.
In the 8th minute, Andrei received his first meaningful touch—a pass from Frenkie de Jong in the left channel. Nice's right-back Souquet closed quickly, physical and aggressive.
Andrei tried to turn. Souquet body-checked him—not quite a foul, just strong defending. The ball bounced away.
Physical challenge: Lost
Strength differential: Evident
"Play quicker!" Bosz shouted from the sideline.
Andrei adjusted. Next time he received the ball, he played it first-time to Dolberg, then immediately moved into space. Constant movement, making himself available.
Ajax dominated possession—72% in the first twenty minutes—but couldn't break through. Nice's defense was organized, compact, disciplined.
In the 28th minute, breakthrough. Ziyech received the ball on the right wing and cut inside. His shot was blocked, but the rebound fell to Schöne at the edge of the box.
The Danish midfielder struck it cleanly. The ball flew into the top corner—unstoppable.
GOAL. Ajax 1-0 (Aggregate 2-1).
The Amsterdam Arena erupted. Ajax was ahead.
But Nice responded immediately. They knew one goal eliminated Ajax on away goals. In the 34th minute, a quick counter saw Balotelli hold the ball up brilliantly. His layoff found Pléa, who struck powerfully.
Onana saved, but the ball bounced loose. Saint-Maximin pounced.
GOAL. Ajax 1-1 (Aggregate 2-2, Nice ahead on away goals).
The stadium went silent. Just like that, Ajax was out unless they scored again.
Halftime arrived with scores level. The dressing room was tense.
"We need one goal," Bosz said simply. "One goal, and we're through. Keep pressing, keep believing."
The second half began with Ajax desperately pushing forward. Nice defended with everyone behind the ball, time-wasting at every opportunity.
In the 63rd minute, Andrei finally made his mark.
Frenkie de Jong won the ball in midfield and immediately looked forward. Andrei had drifted inside from the left, occupying space between Nice's defensive line and midfield—the pocket where playmakers thrive.
The pass came, slightly behind him. Andrei controlled it with his right foot, three defenders converging. He could feel them closing, sense the pressure.
Critical Moment:
Composure Check: EXTREME PRESSURE
Current: 62.8/99
Options: Limited
Time seemed to slow. He could see Dolberg checking to the ball, Ziyech making a run from the right, Veltman overlapping from fullback.
The obvious pass was to Dolberg—safe, retain possession. But Andrei saw something else: a tiny gap between Nice's center-backs. Ziyech was timing his run perfectly.
It was a difficult pass—forty yards, through a tight window, requiring perfect weight. High risk.
But this was the Champions League. Safe wouldn't get them through.
Andrei struck the ball with his right foot, a lofted through ball over the defensive line.
The ball sailed through the air, defenders watching helplessly. It dropped perfectly for Ziyech, who'd timed his run to stay onside by inches.
One touch to control. One strike with his left foot.
GOAL. Ajax 2-1 (Aggregate 3-2).
The Amsterdam Arena exploded into absolute pandemonium.
Ziyech slid on his knees. Teammates sprinted to celebrate. And Andrei stood rooted to the spot, hands on his head, unable to process what had just happened.
He'd provided the assist that might send Ajax to the Champions League playoff round.
Assist recorded - Champions League
Vision: +0.3 (exceptional passing lane identification)
**Passing: +0.2(technical execution under extreme pressure)
Composure: +0.3 (performed in career-defining moment)
Overall Rating: 74.9 → 75.6
MILESTONE: Consistently performing at 75+ level
Ziyech found Andrei first, grabbing his face. "Perfect pass! PERFECT!"
The stadium was still roaring—52,000 people celebrating as one. Andrei felt his legs trembling, adrenaline flooding his system. He'd done it. In the biggest moment of his young career, he'd delivered.
Ajax managed the final twenty-five minutes professionally. Nice pushed desperately but couldn't break through. When the final whistle blew, the relief was palpable.
Ajax had advanced to the Champions League playoff round.
The players celebrated on the pitch, acknowledging the fans who'd driven them forward. Andrei stood taking it all in—the noise, the joy, the sheer magnitude of what they'd achieved.
Achievement Unlocked: Champions League Qualifying Victory
Key Contribution: Match-winning assist
Status: Proven at elite level
In the mixed zone afterward, Dutch journalists swarmed around key players. Several approached Andrei, recognizing his contribution.
"Andrei, that pass to Ziyech—did you see it developing?"
"Yes, I saw Hakim timing his run. It was a risk, but the moment demanded it."
"How does it feel to provide the winning assist in your first Champions League start?"
"Incredible. Overwhelming. This is what I came to Ajax for—these moments, this level of competition."
Elena was waiting outside the press area, professional distance maintained in public but her eyes shining with pride.
Later that night, after the team celebration, after the media obligations, they sat on their small terrace overlooking the canal. The August night was warm, Amsterdam glowing softly around them.
"You keep surprising me," Elena said quietly. "Every time I think you've reached your limit, you go further."
"I surprised myself tonight. That pass—I wasn't sure I could execute it under that pressure."
"But you did. That's what separates good players from great ones. Delivering when it matters most."
Andrei looked out at the canal, processing the evening. "A year ago, I was hoping to make FCSB's first team. Now I'm creating goals in Champions League qualifiers."
"And it's only the beginning. You're eighteen, Andrei. Eighteen. Most players don't reach this level until their mid-twenties, if ever."
They sat in comfortable silence, the weight of the moment settling around them.
"What's next?" Elena finally asked.
"The playoff round. One more two-legged tie to reach the Champions League group stage."
"You'll make it. I know you will."
Andrei hoped she was right.