In the 26th minute, Leeds United launched another quick counterattack.
Their front line surged forward rapidly, while Ajax retreated at full speed to defend.
In the scramble, Vardy failed to control the ball cleanly in the attacking third and nearly lost possession. He was forced to pass the ball back to the midfield to reorganize the play.
But by then, Ajax's defense was already in place.
Leeds United maintained possession outside Ajax's 30-meter zone. Kimmich, Bernardo Silva, and Milinkovic passed the ball around skillfully in midfield, slowing the tempo slightly.
This was the biggest difference between Leeds United and Ajax tonight.
Dutch Eredivisie teams are known for their fast-paced and aggressive style but often lack the ability to control the tempo of the game.
Leeds United also specialize in blitz-style attacks, but unlike Ajax, they know how to slow the game down when needed.
As Gao Shen once told Pochettino: It's not hard to play fast football. It's not hard to play slow football. What's hard is being able to switch between fast and slow at will.
Slowing down without losing possession requires a high level of technical ability.
Especially in a high-intensity match like this, where the opponent offers no space or time on the ball, controlling possession depends on the players' strength, awareness, and off-the-ball movement. Without those, there's no way to manage the tempo.
Leeds United slowed the pace inside Ajax's 30-meter zone, circulating the ball under pressure from the home side.
Arnold made a run along the wing, and Dembélé tried to cut inside, but Ajax's defense rotated effectively.
With no space to break through, Dembele passed the ball back to Bernardo Silva on the right flank.
The Portuguese midfielder had been closely monitoring the attacking third.
After Dembele cut inside to the right side of the penalty arc, he suddenly pulled back, seemingly to receive a pass from Bernardo Silva.
The Leeds United players coordinated seamlessly. Bernardo Silva quickly understood his teammate's intention.
Tagliafico had been pulled out wide by Arnold, while Dembélé dropped back and forth, dragging Blind's attention with him.
Bernardo Silva noticed Vardy's movement.
Sure enough, as Dembélé dropped back, Vardy shifted a couple of steps laterally to the right, just outside the box. It didn't seem like much, but it created a key opening for Bernardo Silva's pass.
Bernardo Silva controlled the ball with his left foot and feinted as if passing to Dembele while also sidestepping the retreating Neres. Then, with his left foot, he suddenly played a through ball.
The ball sliced through Ajax's defense like a scalpel, slipping between Blind and another defender, cutting sharply into the right side of the penalty area. Vardy had started his run at the exact right moment, shaking off his marker and breaking through into the space to latch onto the pass.
Without stopping the ball, Vardy fired a shot immediately.
The ball flew past Onana and into Ajax's net.
"Goallllllllllllllllll!"
The whole move sounds like it took a long time, but it happened in the blink of an eye.
By the time most fans at the Arena Stadium reacted, the ball was already in the back of the net.
Over 50,000 spectators gasped at once.
That's the beauty of football!
It can change everyone's emotions in an instant.
...
Gao Shen couldn't contain himself this time. He stood up and applauded Vardy's goal with genuine excitement.
He was already 32 years old, but this guy just kept getting more and more unpredictable with age.
"He's a typical English player," Van der Sar said admiringly beside him.
The Ajax CEO had spent most of his playing career in the Premier League, so he understood English football very well.
"Yes, but after the youth system reforms, there are fewer and fewer players like him. That makes them all the more valuable," Gao Shen replied.
It was a difficult feeling to put into words.
Just like today's young English players—there were fewer and fewer fighters like Gerrard, Lampard, and Vardy. These were the types of players who truly gave everything on the pitch, burning their energy every second.
They had a kind of fighting spirit that could get your blood pumping.
Maybe they weren't the most technically gifted, maybe they lacked creativity, and sometimes their movements were a bit clumsy. But you couldn't dislike them. You might even feel genuine admiration for their sheer willpower.
"That's a real issue," Van der Sar nodded. "Germany has faced the same problem after its own football reforms. Their younger generation is more technical and tactical, but they've lost that traditional spirit."
"Could it be a generational issue?" Gao Shen asked.
"That's part of it. After all, times are changing. It's unrealistic to expect today's youth to be like those of the past. Many of them just see football as a job, nothing more."
"But Dutch football has done a great job maintaining its traditions," Gao Shen praised.
De Ligt was also a fighter.
"But as you've seen, we've also had a talent gap in recent years. We're reflecting on that now," Van der Sar replied with a slightly bitter smile.
Sometimes it's hard to say whether reform is good or bad.
Traditional Spanish football wasn't always tiki-taka. In the past, they used wingers like Joaquín and Vicente and tall strikers like Morientes, Morata, and Llorente.
Back then, Spain played with intensity and aggression, especially down the flanks.
What took Spain to the top was their passing and possession style.
From Barcelona to Vicente del Bosque's Spain, the style gradually became more conservative, slower, and heavily possession-oriented.
Germany was the same.
So was England.
The youth development reforms have produced many talented players, but they've also broken the chain of succession.
It's a contradiction that can't be easily resolved.
To change, or not to change?
Is there a way to have it both ways? To remain true to your values while adapting to the times?
"Personally, I think change is necessary," Gao Shen said with a smile.
Van der Sar was stunned for a moment, but then he understood the deeper meaning and laughed.
If you change, you have a chance to thrive. If you don't, you'll just be barely surviving.
Tradition and legacy matter less than being able to compete at the highest level.
"Then we should cherish players like Vardy even more," Van der Sar said.
Gao Shen nodded. "He's different from traditional English strikers."
"How so?" Van der Sar asked, surprised.
Gao Shen pointed to his own temple. "He's smarter. Cunning like a fox. That move he just made was genius."
Van der Sar couldn't help but laugh. Gao Shen's comment pleased him.
That move was pure brilliance.
Vardy first made a lateral run to mislead the defenders, which helped open the passing lane for Bernardo Silva while also avoiding being offside. It was a clever, multi-layered play, clearly the result of years of experience.
And it showed he had put serious thought into his game.
Some players never grow. They play the same way when they start out as they do when they retire.
Others are different. The more they play, the more they understand, and the sharper they become.
Vardy clearly belonged to the latter group.
...
Just before halftime, Ajax finally broke through and scored.
In this high-paced, back-and-forth battle, goals were inevitable.
Tadic assisted Ziyech, who found the net and pulled one back for Ajax.
The first half ended 2-1 in favor of Leeds United.
In the second half, both teams came out with the same lineups and continued to play at a relentless tempo.
Ajax's early second-half pressure caused Leeds United to look disorganized for a while.
But in the 57th minute, Leeds United launched a counterattack down the left. Robertson dribbled forward and passed to Milinkovic.
The Serbian midfielder acted as a pivot just outside the penalty arc, then laid it off for Mbappe, who struck it cleanly and restored Leeds United's two-goal lead, making it 3-1.
However, just four minutes later in the 61st minute, Ajax struck back again.
This time it was Van de Beek providing the assist, and Tadic beat Alisson to make it 3-2.
The entire Arena Stadium erupted!
This was the Champions League quarterfinals!
Ajax showed no intention of backing down.
Ten Hag brought on Dolberg and Huntelaar to bolster the attack, clearly showing the intention: "You're not leaving here tonight unless I take you down."
Leeds United were equally determined.
Since it was an away match anyway, they wanted to score as many away goals as possible. No fear, just fight.
As both sides went all out, Ajax equalized in the 82nd minute.
Van de Beek fired a long-range effort from outside the box, beating Alisson and making it 3-3.
But their joy didn't last long.
In the 87th minute, Leeds United won a corner. De Ligt rose high and powered in a header, putting his side back in front at 4-3.
Both teams were playing like their lives depended on it.
The Ajax fans in the stadium were going absolutely crazy.
"This is definitely the best game of the season, no, the best in recent seasons," Borrell exclaimed.
The most important part was that both teams were fully committed to attacking, so the tempo was incredibly fast and neither team held back.
In modern European football, where stability is often the priority, such attacking shootouts are becoming increasingly rare.
Moreover, both sides weren't just attacking aimlessly.
Whether it was technical ability, tactical awareness, or individual talent, both teams were excellent. That made the game smooth, exciting, and rapid from start to finish.
A football match is always 90 minutes, but some feel like they drag on forever, while others feel over in a flash.
Tonight's game definitely belonged to the latter.
"Yes, this was a classic, a textbook example of an offensive battle!" Gao Shen laughed heartily.
Though he was a head coach, he was also a football fan. Watching such a spectacular game made the entire trip worthwhile.
Even better, not only did Leeds United win, but Mazraoui, whom he had been observing closely, had a standout performance.
That gave him even more clarity about his plans.
"Edwin, thank you for the hospitality. I hope we can meet again soon. I look forward to working with you in the future."
After the match, Gao Shen stood up and shook hands with Van der Sar, Overmars, and the others, sharing warm hugs.
"Same here," Van der Sar replied with equal warmth.
For Ajax, losing to Leeds United was disappointing, but they had been mentally prepared.
A partnership with a team like Leeds United would be a very promising opportunity for Ajax.
(To be continued.)