5:20 p.m. ET, November 5, 2019
Nine men? No problem
James Masters
What a night at Stamford Bridge.
Eight goals, two red cards and enough Champions League drama to leave even the neutrals exhausted.
In the end, Ajax, which had led 4-1 after 55 minutes, ended up finishing with nine men and drawing the game 4-4.
While Daley Blind's red card, his second bookable offense, might not have been too controversial, the decision to send Joel Veltman off for handball felt rather harsh.
Ajax's Dutch defender Daley Blind (R) reacts as he is shown a red card by Italian referee Gianluca Rocch
Adrian Dennis/Getty Images
Ajax's players react after its defender Joel Veltman (C) is shown a red card by Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi.
Adrian Dennis/Getty Images
Ajax had taken a second minute lead courtesy of Tammy Abraham's own-goal before Jorginho leveled from the penalty spot for Chelsea two minutes later.
But the Dutch side went into overdrive soon after with Quincy Promes grabbing Ajax's second before Hakim Ziyech's free-kick smashed against the post and off the face of Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa on its way into the net.
Donny van de Beek's 55th-minute strike looked to have sealed victory for the visiting team as Ajax caught Chelsea with another slick passing move.
But there was still plenty of drama to come with Cesar Azpilicueta tapping home at the far post to make it 4-2 before the game reached a whole new level of crazy.
In one passage of play, Blind was sent off for a foul on Abraham before Veltman was adjudged to have deliberately handled a shot from Callum Hudson-Odoi inside the penalty area.
Already on bookings, both players were shown a second yellow card and sent off. "Scenes" as the kids say.
With social media in meltdown and those in the stands in disbelief, Jorginho rolled home the penalty to make it 3-4.
And three minutes later the comeback was complete when Reece James reacted quickest inside the penalty area to fire home an unstoppable effort past Andre Onana.
Andre Onana of AFC Ajax looks dejected during the clash with Chelsea.
Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
There was still time for Azpilicueta to score what looked like the winner only for his effort to be ruled out for handball.
Both teams went for it as the clock ticked down but the winning goal was not forthcoming.
We're shattered -- who knows how the players must be feeling.