Ajax struggled to break down AEK Athens in the first half of their Champions League opener on Wednesday in Amsterdam.
Then some Bob Marley made everything feel alright en route to a 3-0 win for the home team.
Ky-Mani Marley, son of the legendary singer Bob Marley, took to the pitch at halftime to get the crowd going. He sang "Three Little Birds" — with the crowd singing along — and the scenes were fabulous.
¡LO MEJOR QUE VAN A VER EN EL DÍA!
Ky-Mani Marley, hijo de Bob Marley, cantando "Three Little Birds" hoy en el estadio del Ajax previo al partido de la @ChampionsLeagueDON'T WORRY ABOUT A THING!
— Ale Padín (@ale_padin) September 19, 2018
Ky-Mani Marley, son of the great Bob Marley singing Three Little Birds at halftime of the Ajax v AEK Athens match pic.twitter.com/YRqCqg7RDx
— Simon Colosimo (@Shime04) September 19, 2018
Ajax’s half time Bob Marley singalong is absolutely sensational. Better than any punditry.
— James Goyder (@JamesGoyder) September 19, 2018
De Johan Cruijff arena zingt samen met de zoon van Bob Marley #ajax #ajaaek pic.twitter.com/ggWx2obdWE
— Daniel Schoonenboom (@Schoonenboom) September 19, 2018
Yes, every little thing gonna be alright.
Ajax players were already walking back onto the pitch for the second half when Marley and the crowd were still singing.
Clearly they felt the good vibes, because moments into the second half, Argentina international Nicolás Tagliafico scored the opening goal of the match.
Well that didn't take long. Ajax scores less than a minute into the 2nd half for a 1-0 lead
Catch the rest of the match on B/R Live https://t.co/Ujcuh2ymDi pic.twitter.com/RpZnM9SXul— Bleacher Report Live (@brlive) September 19, 2018
We’re not sure what AEK defenders were smoking — probably what Ky-Mani was having — but leaving Tagliafico that wide open is criminal defending.
Ajax put the match away in the 77th minute with a great goal from James Donny van de Beek.
The keeper never stood a chance Ajax doubles their lead.
Catch the final minutes on B/R Live https://t.co/Ujcuh2ymDi pic.twitter.com/EvPSmMFHje— Bleacher Report Live (@brlive) September 19, 2018
The goal was great. The celebration not so much.
76' ¡QUÉ CLASE DE JUGADA, QUÉ CLASE DE GOL ACABAMOS DE VER!
Pared, servicio y remate de Van De Beek para mandarla al fondo #AJX 2-0 #AEK#AJXAEK
Sigue #LaChampionsUD EN VIVO por #UDN, @UniMas y https://t.co/JTpcuUIpUt pic.twitter.com/3hmkHcnYof— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) September 19, 2018
Is he trying to mock Kylian Mbappé?
Tagliafico finished off the scoring with what was probably a cross, but the Argentine left back will certainly claim it as a goal.
— Bleacher Report Live (@brlive) September 19, 2018
The 3-0 victory and three big points are huge for Ajax with matches against Bayern Munich and Benfica to come.
Wednesday’s match wasn’t the first time Ky-Mani Marley has been spotted at an Ajax match. He took in a match against Emmen in August at Johan Cruyff Arena.
The Bob Marley-Ajax connection is strong, for reasons you can probably guess. In the 2017, Ajax fans sang Three Little Birds in Germany after knocking Schalke out of the Europa League in the quarterfinals, on the way to the final.
Ajax fans have also sung the song at Old Trafford and Celtic Park.
Ajax will hope Ky-Mani Marley keeps coming back to Champions League matches.
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