Pochettino's dream turns sour as Spurs misfire against Ajax

Soccer Football - Champions League Semi Final First Leg - Tottenham Hotspur v Ajax Amsterdam - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - April 30, 2019 Ajax's Donny van de Beek scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

LONDON (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino said he was living the dream in the build-up to their Champions League semi-final against Ajax Amsterdam but it must have felt like a nightmare at times against the classy Dutch side on Tuesday.

His patched-up team were comprehensively outplayed in the first 30 minutes and were fortunate to only concede a 15th minute goal that was coolly converted by Donny van de Beek to give the visitors a 1-0 win and a precious away strike.