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Match Report: Lucrative weekend for poor Ajax

	Rafael van der Vaart scores firs-half equalizer against RBC. [source: ANP]

Despite a bad performance against the 17th place team in the Eredivisie, Ajax turned out to be the great winners this weekend. Whereas Ajax won with great difficulty (1-3) over RBC, all five of their biggest rivals lost two points each. PSV, Feyenoord, Vitesse, Roda and RKC all drew (mostly against each other) giving Ajax an extremely unique and lucrative weekend.

Although Man of the Match Cedric Van der Gun stated on Canal+ television that the players seemed very focused in the dressing room before the match, Ajax seemed anything but at the outset of their match. The first small chance fell to Van der Vaart (a weak shot on goal) but the very first chance for RBC led immediately to a goal. Kooistra had loads of space on the left side and loads of time to cross the ball. Both Grim and De Cler missed the ball that went to a free Tomék Iwan on the right side, who was left free to score into a nearly empty goal.

That wasn't such a good start for the Ajax backs - the position with which Adriaanse has been struggling the entire season. This time it was Vierklau who played on the right back position, leaving Kanu out of the line up. Before the match Adriaanse had stated that he wasn't very pleased with the performances of the Nigerian and would try Vierklau, since he was fit again. And with the young Yakubu as a substitute for the injured Passanen and a half-injured Chivu in the line-up, the defense didn't look very experienced or strong.

Ajax didn't seem particularly awakened by that goal, since they still didn't seem dangerous. They played better than RBC in the first 30 minutes, but created hardly any chances. The best chances were again for RBC. Henk Vos had two good chances to put Ajax on its knees, but he failed twice. First he passed the ball feebly to Blinker when he ought to have scored the goal himself. His second attempt was just stopped at the goal line by Chivu.

Ajax wasn't unlucky in that period and even scored the equalizer out of a situation that hardly could be called a chance. RBC defender Bakboord carelessly lost the ball to Van der Vaart. His shot deflected off the leg of an RBC defender, leaving the excellent goal keeper Moens with no chance of saving.

Again in the second half, Ajax couldn't convince the small amount of Ajax supporters who had travelled all the way to the little stadium (5,000 seats) in Roosendaal. Even the go-ahead goal from Van der Gun came out of nowhere. Van der Meyde shot the ball (was it a shot on goal or a cross?) in the direction of the RBC goal. The ball rolled a meter wide of the goal, but an alert Van der Gun was able to tipp it in (1-2).

Van der Meyde was brought in to replace Machlas in the second half. Although the Greek was once again ineffectual, Adriaanse stated that the substitution was more a tactical move:

"You don't have to replace a player because he is not performing very well. You can also replace him because you think someone else will do better on that position at that moment. I wanted to play deeper in the RBC defense."

Arveladze took over Machlas' position while Van der Gun took over Arveladze's. It turned out to be the right move, since Arveladze created more danger. In the 50th minute he fired a great shot which struck the underside of the crossbar. The ball slammed at the goal line but didn't go in. In the last minute of this poor match he was more successful. With a superb move, he wrong-footed Moens and scored to make it 1-3.

To pour even more salt in Machlas' wounds, Adriaanse stated after the match that he is looking for an extra striker. He said he would like to see a kind of pinch hitter in his team. The reporter of AT5 News mentioned the name of gifted Dutch striker Venngoor of Hesselink and Adriaanse confirmed that he really would like to have this player in his team, since he has all the skills an Ajax striker needs" "scoring goals, possessing the ball, hunting for the ball, playing the ball to his fellow team mates."

Adriaanse continued: "But the question is whether Vennegoor of Hesselink would like to play with Ajax and whether Ajax can afford him. The 22-year old player of FC Twente stated that he was 'surprised' and 'flattered' by the remarks from Adriaanse, but that Ajax didn't show any official interest so far. (BV)

GOALS

• 03' 1-0 Tomék Iwan
• 41' 1-1 Rafael van der Vaart
• 55' 1-2 Cedric van der Gun
• 90' 1-3 Shota Arveladze

Referee: Jol
Cards: Van der Vaart, Van der Meyde (Ajax), Blinker en Cas (RBC).
Attendance: 5,000

Ajax line-up: Grim, Vierklau, Yakubu, Chivu, De Cler, Galásek, Van der Vaart, Arveladze, Van der Gun (78. Bergdølmo), Machlas (46. Van der Meyde), Wamberto. (68. Cruz)

RBC line-up: Moens, Heije, Keller (65. Heerkens), Hellemons, Bakboord, Schops (78.Cas), Hertog, Iwan, Kooistra (75. Van Galen), Blinker, Vos.