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Match report: AZ - Ajax 3-2

Inconsistent Ajax hopeless against tall AZ strikers

17 September: A leaky defense with not enough header power, four hopelessly struggling forwards and midfielders lacking the determination to overrun their opponents. Sounds like a losing team, no matter against which opponent. Ajax suffered from all these weaknesses this Sunday in Alkmaar. Too many Ajacieden just stood around watching how former Feyenoord striker Robin Nelisse and 'good old' Ajacied John Bosman sealed Ajax' fate: 3-2.

What is it that maks Ajax so inconsistent and vulnerable? If Co Adriaanse knew the answer, he would not hesitate to cure his team. A beautiful season's opener (5-0) was followed by a catastrophe against Sparta (3-0). The next superb performance, last week in Ghent, was followed by a similar come-down.

Ajax was dominant throughout the large part of the game, but lacked practically everything that's required to actually turn 75% ball possession into a victory. AZ had hardly crossed the middle line in the first 25 minutes, albeit without allowing Ajax to create any real danger. The Alkmaar team's first attacking attempt, however, hit Ajax in the heart. Robin Nelisse flicked on a dangerous corner kick with his head, and 'supersub' Johnny Bosman, who had replaced Dries Boussatta as early as in the 17th minute, headed home: 1-0 (26).

It took Ajax only ten minutes to resurrect, as Richard Knopper finished from a chaotic scrimmage on the goal line (36). The early miss-step seemed to be forgotten, but the tall and fast Robin Nelisse continued giving André Bergdølmo an extremely tough game. Ajax did not create any chances, and neither did AZ, until a smart Van Galen pass through the middle ripped the disorganized Ajax defense apart. Bergdølmo was nowhere. Fred Grim has probably only heard the whizzing of the ball, as it slammed into the upper corner of the net: 2-1 (45).

It is typical for Ajax' weak and apathetic performance that the team equalized again (great pass by Witschge, fine header by Galásek, 47), but could - once more - not keep the game in hand. As everyone in AZ's small stadium was waiting for the Amsterdammers to score the winner, AZ demonstrated that Ajax' defense is not exactly an impressive airforce. Johnny Bosman was dangerous in the air almost every time a ball was walloped in front of the goal mouth. It was, however, the former Ajax veteran, but captain Arie Opdam who easily jumped higher than the entire Ajax defense: 3-2 (65). Although it came as a surprise that AZ took the lead for the third time, it was not surprising that it was a header that knocked Ajax out.

The third blow turned out to be fatal. Ajax' fighting spirit vanished rapidly. Jesper Grønkjær was not able to get past his defender, Andy van der Meyde crosses reached no-one and Richard Knopper made it easy for Adriaanse to leave him out of the team and offer Van der Gun a chance next week. Brutil Hosé, in the mean time, had an awful off-day. Almost everything he did went miserably wrong. AZ did not really get in trouble anymore. Apart from Ajax' two goals, they hardly had any trouble beating Ajax at all.

Next opponent is RBC, the number one candidate to go down to the Toto Division this season. Ajax plays at home. Home games are not the problem, so far. But if Ajax continues embarrassing itself outside Amsterdam (last away win in the league was 28 November, 1999, against AZ...), Co Adriaanse's team will end up winning nothing. Again. (MP)

GOALS

26' 1-0 John Bosman
36' 1-1 Richard Knopper
45' 2-1 Robin Nelisse
47' 2-2 Tomás Galásek
65' 3-2 Arie Opdam

Referee: Van der Ende
Yellow cards: Kromkamp, Lee (AZ) Witschge, Van der Meyde (Ajax)
Attendance: 7,890

Ajax line-up: Grim; Vierklau (45. Pasanen), Chivu, Bergdølmo (73. Van der Gun); Winter, Galásek, Knopper, Witschge; Van der Meyde, Arveladze (36. Hosé), Grønkjær.

AZ line-up: Timmer; Lee, Opdam, Lindenbergh, Matthijs; Buskermolen, Van Galen (79. Mans), Kromkamp, El Hadrioui; Nelisse, Boussatta (17. Bosman [75. Huiberts]).