Chelsea and nine-man Ajax played out a remarkable 4-4 draw as Frank Lampard’s men roared back from 4-1 down and were denied a late winner by VAR.
After winning nine of their last 10 games, including the reverse fixture in Amsterdam, Chelsea were left stunned by last season’s semi-finalists as the visitors ruthlessly went 1-4 up inside 55 minutes.
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Tammy Abraham netted an early own-goal (2) before Jorginho netted from the spot (4) but two goals before half-time from Quincy Promes (20) and another own-goal, this time from Kepa Arrizabalaga (35), put Ajax in control while Donny van de Beek (55) extended the lead after the break.
Cesar Azpilicueta started the comeback to make it 2-4 (63) but then a extraordinary six minute period turned the game on its head where Daley Blind and Joel Veltman were both sent-off for second yellow cards, Jorginho scored his second from the spot (71) and Reece James (74) netted an equaliser.
Lampard’s men thought they had completed the comeback with 12 minutes left but Azpilicueta’s strike was ruled out by VAR after Abraham handled the ball in the build-up.