Rafa's Wing Defense Brilliant at Benfica

Rafael van der Vaart has been in brilliant form for Ajax this season, and his performance against Benfica was no exception. The Dutchman played a key role in the victory over the Portuguese giants, scoring two goals and providing three assists.

Van der Vaart started the match on the left wing, but he soon moved into midfield to support the team's attack. He made several clever runs down the flank, creating space for himself and teammates to run behind the Benfica defense.

In the first half, Van der Vaart created the first goal of the match when he scored from close range after receiving a pass from Wesley Sneijder. His shot found the bottom corner of the net, and Ajax took a 1-0 lead into halftime.

The second half saw more of Van der Vaart's brilliance as he continued to make crucial contributions to the team's play. He set up the second goal with another brilliant run, and then added a third goal just before half-time with a powerful strike that beat goalkeeper Rui Patricio.

Despite losing 2-3, Benfica were impressed by Van der Vaart's performance. The winger is known for his skillful dribbling and ability to create chances, and he showed both those qualities again tonight. His goals and assists helped Ajax secure all three points, and he will undoubtedly be a key player for the team going forward.

• Wing
• at
• Defense
• Brilliant
• Rafa