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Match Report: Ajax stay third after 1-1 draw at Roda
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Parkstad Limburg Stadium, Kerkrade
Monday, 16 April |
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Arveladze duels with Sonko of Roda
JC.
[source: ANP]
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16 April: Should Ajax be happy about Sunday's 1-1 draw in
Kerkrade, or shouldn't they? The question is hard to answer.
The facts are that RKC, Vitesse and - logically - Roda JC drew
as well and that Ajax has miraculously survived the first
direct battle for the third position on the table.
You could also dish up some equally true, but much more
depressing facts: Feyenoord suffered a stunning home defeat
against De Graafschap (1-2), making for their third defeat in a
row, as well as the third time that Ajax did not take
advantage. Ajax could and maybe should have leapfrogged the
struggling Rotterdammers by now, but only managed to come one
meagre point closer in three games. "We have consolidated the
third position and we are one game closer to the season's end
again", said Co Adriaanse, apparently saving his realistic
speech for the dressing-room. But is that the way an Ajacied
should think? Hopefully not.
A draw at Roda JC is not a result to be ashamed of as such,
but the young Ajax team, still missing Chivu and Machlas,
seemed worn out and played in a far too low pace. Referee Jol
was 100% right to give Ajax a penalty kick after Van der Gun
was brought down from behind, and the equalizer (65; Shota
Arveladze fired home) was sort of deserved, but it could not
erase the impression that a penalty kick was the only way in
which Ajax could score. Once more, Ajax' strikers Wamberto,
Arveladze and Van der Gun were chanceless against their tall,
strong opponents.
On the other end of the pitch, every corner kick or high
cross caused danger in the heart of the Ajax defense,
especially if giants Anastasiou and Vrede were involved. Yakubu
Abubakari played well (again) against Anastasiou, but could not
keep the feared Greek striker from puting Roda in the lead,
only minutes after Cedric van der Gun had failed face-to-face
with Kalac. Ironically, best Ajacied, Fred Grim, who had
already saved Ajax several times, was mistaking as a corner
kick was headed by Regilio Vrede. Grim thought the ball would
go wide, and was too late as it came back from the post.
Strikers like Anastasiou are always there for the rebound: 1-0
(61).
The goal came in a period in which Ajax finally seemed to
have things under control, especially because the Amsterdammers
won the battle on midfield, where Van der Vaart, Galásek
and Witschge performed decently after Adriaanse had changed the
team's tactics. Those tactics obviously did not work in the
first minutes of the game, in which Grim kept the score-sheet
clean by two magnificent saves at Anastasiou and Nygaard
chances.
Roda was the better side in the first twenty minutes,
although Ajax had equally excellent chances. Shota Arveladze,
however, failed to finish a low Galásek cross from close
range, whereas Cedric van der Gun saw his shot bounce back from
the post. That was the picture of Roda JC vs Ajax, a game in
which Roda's opportunistic play and the height of their players
brought caused constant danger. Ajax' play, in the mean time,
looked better executed than against NEC, but once again lacked
the physical power to be threatening.
Daniël Cruz is not the tallest and heaviest of strikers
either, but he had almost made the very most out of the 24
minutes he played. He showed several good runs from the left
flank, one of which ended with a furious low shot, which beat
Kalac, but - for the second time in the game - hit the post.
Fred Grim had to stretch once more to tip a slamming Vrede
header over the cross-bar.
The final score of 1-1 was fair, and so is the conclusion
that Ajax - especially now Chivu and Machlas are injured - is
just not better than Roda JC. Ajax survived for now, but this
first 'D-Day' was not the last. Each game will now be a final
if Ajax wants to hold on to the third position. Next Friday's
home game against NAC is now a 'must win'. (MP)
GOALS
- 61' 1-0 Ioannis Anastasiou
- 65' 1-1 Shota Arveladze (penalty)
Referee: Jol
Yellow card: Grim (Ajax)
Attendance: 19,000
Line-up Ajax: Grim; Vierklau, Pasanen, Yakubu, De Cler;
Galásek, Witschge, Van der Vaart (66. Cruz); Van der Gun
(87. Hersi), Arveladze, Wamberto (75. Van der Meyde).
Line-up Roda JC: Kalac; Senden, Vrede, Luijpers, Van
Haaren; Van der Luèr, Van Dessel, Soetaers; Anastasiou,
Sonko (59. Tomasic), Nygaard.
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