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Match Report: NAC 0, Ajax 3

NAC remarkably weary against solid Ajax; 0-3 in Breda

19 November: It was a remarkable week for young Finnish Ajacied Petri Pasanen. The stoical defender made his debut for Finland on Wednesday. On Sunday, in NAC's Fuji Film Stadium, he was the man of the match in Ajax's second consecutive away win, scoring his first two goals for Ajax. NAC, from Breda, has a reputation for playing agressive and offensive 'British football', but was surprisingly harmless this time. An average day was good enough for Ajax to make it 0-3.

Petri Pasanen has adapted remarkably well. His play is as anonymous as it is faultless. The Fin underscored his self-esteem today, going upfront, all the way to the penalty box to head home a Wamberto corner, making it 0-1 (17). Surprising - not only because it was Pasanen who scored, but also because it was a corner kick that gave Ajax the lead. Ajax's corner kicks annoy many fans, because they usually go straight into the hands of the opponent's goalkeeper.

It was even more surprising to see the scenario repeat itself right after the half time break. This time it was a Rafaël van der Vaart corner kick, which Aron Winter headed and NAC goalie Babos parried before Petri Pasanen showed up again to finish: 0-2 (51), this time with a right-footed shot. Two corners and two Pasanen goals had just decided the match. Who had expected that?

It all happened suspiciously easy. Only in the very first minute, NAC had lived up to its reputation as one of Holland's most agressive home sides. For one minute Ajax was overwhelmed. Striker Sergio showed up right in front of Fred Grim, who made his most important save of the day. A 100% scoring opportunity, which seemed to announce another yellow and black tornado. It didn't happen. Nothing remotely like it, in fact.

Cristian Chivu, Pasanen and Tim de Cler deserved compliments for their solid defending, but apart from that, Ajax's play was far from impressive in the first half. The Amsterdammers went along with NAC's kick-and-rush-play, but the team lacked the accuracy to create any danger. Ajax was a goal ahead after 45 minutes - the only feat of arms worth mentioning.

The team was much better organized in the second half. Ajax started playing its own game, which immediately resulted in Pasanen's second goal and - during the remainder of the game - a huge number of scoring chances for Ajax. Nikos Machlas should have been rewarded a penalty, but referee Bossen overlooked a Penders foul against the Greek. Rafaël van der Vaart shot just past the far post after a good midfield combination. Wamberto, Winter, Galásek - they all got the opportunity to try.

After the entire forward line of Ikedia, Machlas and Wamberto was replaced by their stand-ins Van der Meyde, Van der Gun and Arveladze, Ajax showed fifteen minutes of good play.

NAC tried to start a desperate final offensive. The only effect was that Ajax's freshly brought on forwards created even more chances. Van der Gun missed target a few times, and Shota Arveladze smoothly lifted the ball into the goal, but he did it from an off-side position.

American NAC-player Earnest Stewart missed his team's second real chance of the game. His team surrendered, which provided Ajax the chance to add the finishing touch. Arveladze did it, by firing a smart Van der Gun pass high into the net (90).

No matter how average Ajax's play was; the team is now unbeaten for over a month, which proves that Co Adriaanse and his boys are getting the inconsistency of the season's start under control. The result is striking: Ajax was 9th three weeks ago, 7th two weeks ago and 5th last week. This victory makes Ajax 4th, leapfrogging NEC, who suffered their first defeat against league leaders Feyenoord. Ajax is not there yet, but for now, there are reasons to be optimistic. (MP)

GOALS

• 17' 0-1 Petri Pasanen
• 51' 0-2 Petri Pasanen
• 90' 0-3 Shota Arveladze

Referee: Bossen
Bookings: Féhér (NAC), De Cler, Ikedia, Galásek (Ajax)
Attendance: 15,882
Ajax line-up: Grim; Bergdølmo, Chivu, Pasanen, De Cler; Winter, Galásek, Van der Vaart; Ikedia (68. Van der Meyde), Machlas (62. Van der Gun), Wamberto (77. Arveladze).
NAC line-up: Babos; Féhér, Penders, Schenning (70. Engelaar), Van As; Doomernik, Schreuder, Christiano, Versteeg (46. Simons); Stewart, Sergio.