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Match Report: Win over Wolfsburg ends succesful Portugal training camp

"We're ready for it", said Ajax coach Ronald Koeman after his team's third winter break friendly, the second in Faro, Portugal. After having beaten FC Volendam (1-5) and Sporting Farense (0-2) earlier on, the last, toughest and most important testcase was also succesful: Vfl Wolfsburg, currently 9th in the German Bundesliga, was beaten, 2-0.

"There was a certain pressure on this game", added a satisfied Koeman, "since it was the last game before the second half of the league. Also, it was live on TV in The Netherlands. We'll have one more training session tomorrow morning. After that, it's time for relaxation."

Ajax decided the dull match in the second half, which was only three minutes old when Wamberto took full advantage of a hilarious slip-up by goalkeeper Reitmaier. The Ajacied filched the ball from the goalie's foot and calmly curled it into the empty goal (48).

Twewnty minutes later, Richard Knopper underscored his productive week once again. The 'shadow striker' was brought on as a second half substitute in all three winter break games, and scored on all three occasions. This time it was a particularly nice one. Knopper set up the attack himself, launching substitute Steven Pienaar with a thru-pass. Wamberto failed to convert the South-Africans cross, after which Knopper himself fired home from the edge of the box, with a left-footed volley (68).

In this stage of the game, Ajax finally showed some decent football. Nikos Machlas should have scored just before Knopper, as Andy van der Meyde provided him with a superb cross. The Greek, who played a weak game after Zlatan did well on Tuesday, managed to aim his diving header from close range exactly at Reitmaier's hands.

The first half had brought significantly fewer spectacular moments. Wamberto missed the perfect scoring opportunity, face to face with Reitmaier. The second 'highlight' was a Maxwell cross which Andy van der Meyde tipped into the net with his hand. Referee Coelho saw it and disallowed the goal.

For VfL Wolfsburg, this game was even more important than it was for Ajax. Coach Wolfgang Wolf's squad is due on Tuesday, in a domestic cup tie against giants Bayern Munich, considered this game a serious dress-rehearsal and therefore played with the strongest team. However, the Germans hardly created any danger. The only time Joey Didulica was seriously tested, was when a first half free-kicked got deflected. Didulica's reaction was adequate.

Ronald Koeman is facing a "goalkeeper's problem" at the moment: Fred Grim is still injured and Young Ajax' Maarten Stekelenburg, who played against Farense, sustained a potentially serious injury during training. Goalkeeper Serge van de Ban, loaned out to Haarlem, was immediately flown over to Portugal, as back-up for Joey Didulica, now the only fit goalkeeper in the Ajax squad.

Koeman has seen almost all his players in action this week. He saw Zlatan do better than Machlas, Van Halst better than Galásek and O'Brien better than Maxwell. The line-up of his preference will probably already be in his head as Ajax flies back to Amsterdam on Monday night. We'll see that team next week in Den Bosch, which is where Ajax will resume its quest for the Dutch championship. (MP)

GOALS

• 48' 1-0 Wamberto
• 68' 2-0 Richard Knopper

Referee: Coelho
Attendance: 250

Ajax line-up: Didulica; Vierklau (63. O'Brien), Bergdølmo, Chivu, De Cler; Galásek, Van der Vaart, Maxwell (52. Knopper); Van der Meyde (73. Pienaar), Machlas, Wamberto.

VfL Wolfsburg line-up: Reitmaier, Sarpei, Franz, Bilisov, Weiser, Kühbauer, Munteanu, Karhan, Ponte, Petrov, Maric.

Related Links:

• Discussion: Ajax current form
• AVI video: Ajax-VFL Wofsburg goals (2.03MB)
• Official website: VFL Wofsburg
• Ajax.nl: Match report