Rodrigo's first-half goal sent Valencia through at the expense of Ajax
Last season's Champions League semi-finalists Ajax were knocked out in the group stages as Valencia progressed instead with victory at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Rodrigo scored the only goal midway through the first half as he blasted into the roof of the net from Ferran Torres' clever pass.
Ajax desperately pushed for the equaliser they needed with Lisandro Martinez and Hakim Ziyech forcing late saves from Valencia keeper Jaume Domenech.
Valencia had defender Gabriel sent off in injury time for clashing heads with Dusan Tadic in a very tense finale in Amsterdam.
Ajax were seconds away from reaching last year's final before Lucas Moura's injury-time strike sent Tottenham to the final instead.
Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt were among the stars of that team to leave last summer and they have not been the same since.
Two defeats at home - by Chelsea and Valencia - and a 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge have ultimately cost them.
Valencia go through as group winners, with Chelsea in second after their 2-1 win over Lille.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Ajax
24OnanaBooked at 81mins
12Mazraoui
3Veltman
17Blind
31TagliaficoBooked at 79minsSubstituted forde Jongat 89'minutes
4ÁlvarezBooked at 10minsSubstituted forDestat 45'minutes
21Martínez
22Ziyech
6van de BeekBooked at 83mins
27LangSubstituted forHuntelaarat 70'minutes
10TadicBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
1Semedo Varela
2Schuurs
9Huntelaar
15de Jong
18Marin
23Traoré
28Dest
Valencia
1DoménechBooked at 79mins
18Wass
5GabrielBooked at 90mins
12Diakhaby
14Gayá
20TorresSubstituted forMangalaat 90+5'minutes
17Coquelin
10ParejoBooked at 81mins
8Soler
9GameiroSubstituted forVallejo Galvánat 54'minutesBooked at 86mins
19Rodrigo
Substitutes
2Correia
3Costa
4Mangala
15Vallejo Galván
28Rivero
34Esquerdo
38Gozalbez Gilabert
Referee:
Clément Turpin
Match Stats
Home TeamAjaxAway TeamValencia
Possession
Home64%
Away36%
Shots
Home17
Away8
Shots on Target
Home3
Away3
Corners
Home13
Away2
Fouls
Home20
Away7
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Ajax 0, Valencia 1.
Full TimePosted at 90'+7'
Second Half ends, Ajax 0, Valencia 1.
Posted at 90'+6'
Attempt missed. Rodrigo Moreno (Valencia) left footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the right.
SubstitutionPosted at 90'+5'
Substitution, Valencia. Eliaquim Mangala replaces Ferrán Torres.
BookingPosted at 90'+4'
Dusan Tadic (Ajax) is shown the yellow card.
DismissalPosted at 90'+3'
Gabriel Paulista (Valencia) is shown the red card for violent conduct.
Posted at 90'+3'
Corner, Ajax. Conceded by Gabriel Paulista.
Posted at 90'+1'
Corner, Ajax. Conceded by Jaume Doménech.
Posted at 90'+1'
Attempt saved. Hakim Ziyech (Ajax) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Noussair Mazraoui with a cross.
Posted at 90'+1'
Lisandro Martínez (Ajax) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 90'+1'
Foul by Carlos Soler (Valencia).
Posted at 89'
Attempt saved. Lisandro Martínez (Ajax) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
SubstitutionPosted at 89'
Substitution, Ajax. Siem de Jong replaces Nicolás Tagliafico.
Posted at 88'
Foul by Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Ajax).
Posted at 88'
Mouctar Diakhaby (Valencia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
BookingPosted at 86'
Manu Vallejo (Valencia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 86'
Noussair Mazraoui (Ajax) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 86'
Foul by Manu Vallejo (Valencia).
Posted at 85'
Corner, Ajax. Conceded by Daniel Parejo.
Posted at 85'
Noussair Mazraoui (Ajax) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 85'
Foul by Francis Coquelin (Valencia).
BookingPosted at 83'
Donny van de Beek (Ajax) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 83'
Foul by Donny van de Beek (Ajax).
Posted at 83'
José Gayá (Valencia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 82'
Attempt saved. Daniel Parejo (Valencia) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
BookingPosted at 81'
Daniel Parejo (Valencia) is shown the yellow card.
BookingPosted at 81'
André Onana (Ajax) is shown the yellow card.
BookingPosted at 79'
Nicolás Tagliafico (Ajax) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 79'
Foul by Nicolás Tagliafico (Ajax).
Posted at 79'
Manu Vallejo (Valencia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
BookingPosted at 79'
Jaume Doménech (Valencia) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 78'
Foul by Dusan Tadic (Ajax).
Posted at 78'
Daniel Wass (Valencia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 77'
Foul by Noussair Mazraoui (Ajax).
Posted at 77'
Rodrigo Moreno (Valencia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 75'
Foul by Hakim Ziyech (Ajax).
Posted at 75'
Daniel Parejo (Valencia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 75'
Foul by Noussair Mazraoui (Ajax).
Posted at 75'
Daniel Parejo (Valencia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 72'
Hand ball by Daley Blind (Ajax).
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Source: bbc.com