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Match Report: PSV 1, Ajax 1
Ajax ends tough period with moral 'victory' at PSV
30 October: In an exciting game Ajax won one point in Eindhoven
against titleholder PSV. Or do you have to say that they lost
two points? If you look at the game, the latter is slightly
more likely than the former. Ajax played a good game, took a
0-1 lead after just 16 minutes, and were very close to 0-2, but
saw in the end PSV equalize via a doubtful penalty. Whereas PSV
coach Gerets thought that Ajax had the best chances to win the
game, Adriaanse stated that "it was a game that could have gone
two different directions. We even could have lost it."
Most remarkable news came already before the kickoff when
Adriaanse revealed his line-up. Andy van der Meyde, the
right-sided striker who was left out of the team several times
because Adriaanse thought he wasn't good enough, now had to
play in the defense on the right side. Adriaanse said he
saw no other option: "It wasn't a tactical move, but driven by
nessecity because Vierklau is injured and I don't have an other
right-sided defender in my selection."
That sounded a bit tall, because he could have chosen for
Christoffer Kanu, John Nieuwenburg or Abubakari Yakubu. But
Adriaanse said that Kanu didn't "deserve it" and that
Nieuwenburg didn't play good enough on that position against
Heerenveen. And Yakubu is according to Adriaanse actually a
midfielder.
Rather a striker in the defense, he must have thought. Very
strange, especially if you consider that Van der Meyde never
ever in his entire career has played in the defense. Van der
Meyde of course was a bit surprised: 'It really gave me a
fright. I was in the changeroom, looked on the blackboard and
suddenly saw Van der Meijde on number 2. That really gives you
something of a shock'
Van der Meyde had to play against Ramzi who played last year
under Adriaanse at Willem II. Adriaanse should have known the
great capacities of the attacking Moroccan, but nevertheless
took the risk. It turned out to be not such a smart move. All
the attacking impulses from PSV in the first half came from
Ramzi. Van der Meyde could hardly do anything against it.
Nevertheless it was Ajax who were leading at half time. A
wrong backward pass by Arnold Bruggink gave Machlas the
opportunity to score his 4th goal of the competition. From a
distance of 20 meters the Greek nicely curled the ball behind
goal keeper Waterreus who was a few meters before the goal
line.
At the end of the first half PSV got stronger and created a
few chances. But Adriaanse didn't use the releaving break to
change the positions in the defense. Van der Meyde stayed on
the right side in the defense and only got more backing by his
team-mates. This lead to a stronger position from PSV on the
midfield, because loads of times Winter had to leave his
position to cover Van der Meyde.
Ten minutes before time even right winged striker Pius
Ikedia had to assist Van der Meyde in Ajax's penalty area. The
gifted young Nigerian made immediately clear to Adriaanse that
the coach better not try him in the defense some other
time. Ikedia hit the heel of PSV player Kolkka unfortunately
with his toe and referee Van de Ende thought it extreme enough
for a penalty.
This was really sad for Ikedia who played a great match and
was rightly chosen as man of the match. His dribblings were
really a feast for the eyes. But it wasn't only on the pitch
where the 20-year-old stole the heart of many Ajax
supporters.
After the match, interviewed in the studio of tv-station
Canal+, Ikedia left behind a pleasant and cute impression:
huddled in a big chair people saw an extremely shy and little
child, trying to hide his face with one hand, who said that he
"wanted to take this opportunity to apologize for the penalty
to his fellow players and to the supporters who came all the
way to the stadium."
The 1-1 ended a tough period of difficult games for Ajax.
October was said to be a tough month and turned out to be so.
From October 2nd till 29th Ajax had to play difficult away
games against Heerenveen (2-2), Vitesse (3-2), Lausanne Sports
(1-0) and PSV (1-1) and a tough home match against Roda JC
(4-2). With 5 points out of 5 matches (for the league: 5 out of
4) Ajax is definitely in need of a relatively easier period.
But with the draw in Eindhoven, what can be seen as a a moral
victory, Ajax can in any case be a bit more optimistic for the
upcoming matches.
(BV)
GOALS
- Machlas 0-1 (16)
- Bruggink 1-1 (79, penalty)
Referee: Van der Ende
Bookings: Van der Doelen, Van Bommel (PSV).
Attendance: 30,500
Ajax line-up: Grim; Van der Meyde (71. Yakubu),
Chivu, Pasanen en Bergdølmo; Van der Vaart (65.
Arveladze), Galasek en Winter; Ikedia, Machlas (82. Van der
Gun) en Wamberto
PSV line-up: Waterreus; Ooijer, Nikiforov, Hofland en
Heintze (69. Kolkka); Lucius (63. Van der Doelen), Van Bommel,
Vogel en Ramzi; Bruggink en Kezman (24. Rommedahl).
