January 1991
Ajax… Fifteen Years Ago
A happy 1991 to you all!
The Ajax players don't have much time to recover from their
Christmas and New Year celebrations. They are due on the
training pitch in front of De Meer in the very first week of
the year. There is no time to lose: the first league fixture of
1991 is scheduled for 13 January and in order to prepare for
that Ajax will make a short trip to Turkey for a friendly
fixture against Galatasaray in Istanbul. The team fly out of
Schiphol Airport on Tuesday 08 January and settle for a
satisfying 2-2 draw against the Turkish powerhouse.
On Sunday 13 January Ajax travel to 'The Castle' in
Rotterdam-West, where they suffered two defeats in the last
three seasons. Hosts Sparta are having a disappointing season
so far (they're 14th), but they once again give Ajax a
tremendously hard time in front of 15,000 spectators. The
visitors have their chances, but so have the hosts. The final
score of 0-0 seems fair. Ajax now have 23 points out of 14
games. PSV have 25 out of 15, but drop another point in their
home game against FC Groningen on the 19th (1-1), so that Ajax
are three points behind again, but with two games in hand to
jump to the top of the table.
Time for cup football. After having easily brushed Excelsior
aside in the second round, the KNVB Cup competition seriously
starts for Ajax on Wednesday 23 January as FC Groningen (third
in the league!) come to De Meer. It is the third round of the
competition and 16,400 people get to see a real cup
game, between two excellent teams. Stefan Pettersson gives Ajax
the lead (20'), Groningen's human battering-ram Harris Huizingh
heads the equalizer past Stanley Menzo (41'), but just before
the half-time break a well aimed Jan Wouters shot makes it
2-1.
The game remains a fascinating battle until Stefan
Pettersson's scores his second goal of the night: 3-1 (67').
Groningen bow their heads. This is a very good win. The draw
for the fourth round takes place the same night and another
tough one comes out of the bowl for Ajax: Roda away, to be
played on 27 February.
On Sunday 27 January Leo Beenhakker and his boys
travel to Arnhem's ramshackle Nieuw Monnikenhuize stadium for
the away game against Vitesse. The yellow and black are not
doing as spectacularly well as last season, but still much
better than anyone ever expected when they got promoted. They
are currently 8th on the table and are the dominant side in the
first half, in front of a 12,500 fans, including a large army
of travelling Ajax supporters.
27 January 1991: Jan Wouters is
chased by Vitesse's Frans Thijssen. [Photo: Voetbal
International]
René Eijer's left-footed shot makes it 1-0 to the
home side in the 37th minute. Vitesse deserve the lead at that
point, but Ajax resurrect after the break. A splendid diagonal
finish by Dennis Bergkamp makes it 1-1 on the hour and a very
unfortunate own goal by John van den Brom (75') decides the
game in Ajax's favour. Stefan Pettersson converts one of the
chances Ajax get on counter-attack: 1-3 (90'). Meanwhile, PSV
also book a road win: 0-2 at Volendam.
At the end of January Ajax are still second (with 25 out of
15) but 'virtually' tops: PSV have 28 out of 17. If Ajax. The
two rivals are still at daggers drawn, staying very close to
each other and refusing to let the each other escape. It's been
years since the battle at the top of the Eredivisie
was so tight. (MP)
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