Inter Milan launched their Champions League campaign in style with a 2-0 victory over Ajax on Wednesday, courtesy of two headed goals from French forward Marcus Thuram.
The 28-year-old striker proved unplayable on the night, his pace, power, and aerial dominance leaving the Dutch side’s defence in constant disarray. Both goals came from corners, underscoring his physical presence in the box.
“He is so strong. He’s a fantastic player when you see how well he holds the ball up,” Inter’s Dutch defender Stefan de Vrij said afterward. “An intelligent player, technically good. He can even head the ball,” he joked, alluding to Thuram’s decisive brace.
The match began cautiously under heavy rain at the Johan Cruyff Arena. Inter’s Federico Dimarco tested the Ajax goalkeeper with a sharp strike in the second minute, but chances were few during the opening half-hour.
With Ajax missing injured star striker Steven Berghuis and Inter resting captain Lautaro Martinez, both teams initially lacked cutting edge. Thuram, however, remained a constant danger and appeared to have won a penalty after colliding with Youri Baas in the box. VAR intervened, ruling that Thuram had committed the first foul, much to the delight of the home crowd.
The hosts then squandered a golden chance to take the lead in the 40th minute when Oliver Edvardsen’s incisive through ball released Belgian winger Mika Godts. Clean through on goal, Godts scuffed his finish, allowing Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer to save comfortably.
“Such a shame. If I had made it 1-0, it could have been a completely different game,” Godts admitted afterward.
Ajax’s wastefulness was punished almost immediately. Just before the break, Thuram powered a header past the goalkeeper from a near-post corner to put Inter ahead.
Barely minutes into the second half, Thuram repeated the trick, rising above his marker once more to glance another header into the net and double the Italian side’s advantage.
From then on, Inter managed the game with composure, controlling possession and starving Ajax of opportunities. The Dutch outfit, blunt in attack, mustered only two shots on target over 90 minutes, leaving the visitors to cruise to a comfortable opening-day win.
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