Lucas Moura recalls his ‘miraculous’ hattrick against Ajax in the Champions League in 2019
Lucas Moura has given a recount of his legendary hattrick against Ajax in the Champions League in 2019, admitting it was an ‘inexplicable’ outcome in the circumstances.
Tottenham was in need of three goals to reach the final as they were two goals down on the night and three on aggregate in the semi-finals.
Spurs secured two goals in the space of four minutes, but it took until the fifth minute of stoppage time to find their third as the hero of the night Lucas Moura netted the third to send Spurs to their first-ever Champions League final.
In an interview, Lucas gave an insight into that night in Amsterdam.
“Once we survived the City tie, I was convinced we’d make the final. But Ajax were the sensations of the tournament, and we lost 1–0 at home. After the game I went over to our fans and shouted, ‘Come on, believe! Believe!!’
“Then we travel to Amsterdam and go 2–0 down at half-time…hahaha! “Man…3–0 on aggregate. We were done. Toast. But I don’t know why, I just kept believing it was possible. Pochettino told us, ‘One goal, guys. One goal and we’re back in the match.’
“We were all over them in the second half. Then I somehow scored twice in five minutes. I was thinking, ‘We’ll make it now!! There’s no other way!!!’
“But the minutes passed and the ball didn’t go in. They hit the post, Hugo made a huge save and the crowd wanted the game to be over. In the final seconds, I just thought about staying near the box, because maybe the ball would drop for me. I don’t know how Dele saw me, but suddenly the ball was right in front of me, and man, I swear, I had one single thought. ‘I’m going to kick it’.
“That was it!! I’m going to kick it. Doesn’t matter if I hit the grass or the defender’s foot, just kick the thing!!’ “The ball deflects off a defender and goes in. I don’t even know what more to say…
“For sure, you cannot think clearly in a moment like that. There is this explosion of emotions inside of you that you don’t know how to handle. I didn’t know how to celebrate. When the game was over, I just fell to the floor and cried. I thanked God. I felt this huge sense of gratitude as if I had received an enormous gift. Everyone came over and hugged me. Inexplicable, man. Seriously, I don’t know how it happened. Ask Him.
“When I got to the dressing room there were bottles flying in the air, water on the floor, teammates jumping around and smashing the table. Then I got on the team bus and called Larissa, who was pregnant with our second child, Pedrinho. She was in tears. I called my family in Brazil, too, and everyone was wearing Spurs shirts, crying and celebrating.
“It was impossible to sleep that night. Impossible. My mind went back to those six months at PSG. Then an angel appeared next to me and said, ‘See? He had a plan all along.'”
Lucas confirmed he has watched the match several times and is still in shock and finds it difficult to believe the entire scene. According to him, it was like a movie to him anytime he watched it.
He added: “I believe in miracles, I really do. Whenever my mind goes back to that night in Amsterdam in 2019, I can find no other explanation. Man, think about it: We’re in a Champions League semi-final, we’re 3–0 down to Ajax on aggregate with 45 minutes left….
“…and then I score three goals in one half? With my left foot?? And the winner comes after the final minute??? “Come on, man. It’s a joke. It’s a bad movie script.” Lucas added.
By: George Addo | Join our Telegram Channel
