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Match Report: Slow start, fortunate goal, great result
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Arena, Amsterdam
Friday, 27 April |
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Despite Co's promise to Ajax USA of multiple goals, Friday
night's home game against NAC looked to be heading for a dreary
0-0 result until Daniel Cruz' late and somewhat lucky goal
secured three points for Ajax, the club's first win in four
games.
The victory, if not the quality of play, capped an
altogether happy and successful week for the attendees of Ajax
USA's inaugural "Ajax in April" trip to Amsterdam. The game's
other significant highlight for our group was the
public-address speaker's greeting and birthday congratulation,
in English, to our own Ben Bell of Media, PA.
After two weeks without a league game (thanks, Louis), Ajax
started slowly and definitely took time to find their form.
Notably, they created a great chance in the first five minutes
for Galasek, but he failed to convert. Arveladze also was
notably unable to capitalize on the rebound.
The rest of the first half was rather boring and uninspired.
Ajax wingers Van der Meyde and Wamberto were unable to get past
the NAC defense, resulting in a clogged and ineffectual attack
through the middle of the field. NAC didn't seem so interested
in scoring either. They adopted a cynical 'kill the game'
approach, playing for the scoreless draw.
As halftime approached, the Arena crowd seemed bored into
silence. Halftime was greeted with very loud and sustained
whistles from the Ajax supporters.
The second half was much more active for both teams. Ajax in
particular managed to create numerous scoring chances. Cedric
van der Gun, who struggled all match, failed to convert a huge
chance just after the 60th minute. After finding himself
one-on-one with the NAC keeper, Babos, the striker's low shot
was too tentative and poorly placed.
Shota Arveladze was both inconsistent and unlucky. His
earlier shots were disappointing, and then he almost scored in
Ajax's most active period during the second half, but his
quality shot hit the post.
Just when it seemed certain that Ajax had drifted back into
their earlier apathetic mood, the decisive goal came from the
most unlikely of positions. Daniel Cruz, brought in at halftime
to replace a feckless Ferdi Vierklau at right back, scored a
nifty (and rather lucky) goal in the 79th minute. He ran onto a
good through-pass from Arveladze and did very well to evade
several defenders before firing on the NAC goal. Although his
initial shot was saved by Babos, the rebound fell rather
fortunately to Cruz, who then easily slotted home the winner,
much to the delight and relief of the 39 thousand-plus Ajax
fans.
Although the f Final score: a modest 1-0, but the result
among the Ajax USA crew, visiting our first game in the Arena:
joy. (JM & MP)
GOAL
Referee: Van Hulten
Yellow card: Van der Meyde (Ajax), Simons (NAC)
Attendance: 39,500
Line-up Ajax: Grim; Vierklau (46. Cruz), Pasanen,
Yakubu, De Cler; Galásek, Van der Gun (67. Ikedia),
Witschge; Van der Meyde, Arveladze, Wamberto (57. Van der
Vaart).
Line-up NAC: Babos; Mensah, Schenning, Gudelj, Penders,
Versteeg, Stewart, Schreuder, Simons (58. Salmon), Feher, Roy
(79. Cristiano).
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