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Ajax - FC Groningen 3-1 (1-1)

Ajax mediocre in 3-1 win over Groningen

10 September: Although they played less confidently than in their previous two matches, Ajax finally managed a win last Saturday. The 3-1 win over FC Groningen (in the First Division last season...) at the Amsterdam ArenA was more than Ajax deserved.

Ajax started with the same players they've used in previous games this season, with the exception of Kevin Bobson. Jesper Grønkjær, who returned from an injury, replaced the Ajax youngster, who had a tough match against NEC last week. In that game, Grønkjær was substituted in for Bobson in the last minutes of the game. But also Grønkjær wasn't able to create enough dangerous moments to break the Groningen defence. "I didn't feel O.K. today. After 10 or 15 minutes I had the feeling I couldn't bring something extra to the team. I just tried to do my defensive duties, but I also failed in that," he stated on AT5 News.

He wasn't the only one who couldn't give Ajax 'something extra'. The ball pace was low and striker Arveladze didn't get many chances to shake off his scoring slump. The Georgian couldn't do much about it, even though he himself worked very hard. The only way to score this evening seemed to be from a set piece. In the 24th minute Ajax got a free kick which was taken by Richard Witschge. He sent the ball onto the head of Ajax captain Aron Winter, who headed home skillfully for a 1-0 lead.

It looked as if Ajax needed this opening goal to play more confidently. Within a few minutes, Ajax were creating some good chances. Aron Winter again got two good chances to score, but failed. This relief lasted only eight minutes, until Groningen striker Martin Drent took advantage of a huge error in the Ajax defence. With a marvelous header he put the ball behind Grim (32') for the equalizer. Ajax defender André Bergdølmo claimed it wasn't exactly his fault: "I had two players in front of me and I had to choose. And the tall one got the ball, so I couldn't do anything about it."

In the second half Ajax again needed a free kick to score. Arveladze got tackled just outside the penalty area. With Knopper and again Witschge behind the ball, Groningen goalie Beukenkamp had difficulty getting his 'wall' in the right place. Knopper took advantage and curled the ball nicely into the goal: 2-1 (53'). Groningen again could have scored the equalizer a few minutes later, but the great scoring chance from Groningen player Van Dijk was cleared off the goal line by Winter.

A quarter of an hour later Groningen player El Idrissi got sent off with his second yellow card. But against 10 players and with a confident 2-1 lead Ajax still couldn't increase the pace and create any more chances. On the contrary, Groningen had the better chances.

Tony Alberda and Martin Drent had huge opportunities, but Grim showed he can still be an important goal keeper for his team. Instead of the equalizer, Ajax midfielder Galasek scored the 3-1, six minutes before the end of the game. After a nice combination between Vierklau and Van der Meyde, the Czech scored with an excellent header.

The scoreline makes it appear as if Ajax was the superior team. This was actually not the case. Although the victory was deserved, Ajax will have to play a lot better next Tuesday, when they face AA Ghent in the UEFA cup. (BV)

GOALS

24' 1-0 Aron Winter
32' 1-1 Martin Drent
53' 2-1 Richard Knopper
84' 3-1 Tomás Galásek

Referee: Luyten
Yellow cards: Galasek, Witschge (Ajax), Drent, Van de Looi (FC Groningen)
Red card: El Idrissi (FC Groningen, 69')
Attendance: 34,000

Ajax line-up: Grim; Vierklau, Chivu, Bergdølmo; Galásek, Winter, Knopper (86. Van der Gun), Witschge; Van der Meyde, Arveladze (81. Hosé), Grønkjær (75. Bobson).

FC Groningen line-up: Beukenkamp; Elshot, Van de Looi, Broerse, Johansson; Alberda, G. van Dijk, Hugo, D. van Dijk (69. Maximiano); Drent, El Idrissi.