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Match Report: Ajax cling to early goal in Den Bosch, regain league lead

FC Den Bosch vs Ajax looked a lot like FC Den Bosch vs Feyenoord, earlier this season: a game in which the tough and tenacious home side worked hard but simply lacked the quality to win, and in which the guests struggled and had problems creating scoring chances. The difference: Feyenoord saw the game in Ecco Stadium end in a frustrating 0-0 draw, whereas a single Andy van der Meyde caprice secured the three points for Ajax.

Van der Meyde's smart goal once again showed how much he has matured. He was always high skilled, but in his first years he seemed easy to intimidate and afraid to fail in ball possession. This season, the Arnhem native is making major progress, continuously showing the swagger and intelligence an Ajax winger needs. Andy van der Meyde is at ease these days, which he underscored by smartly picking up a blocked off Zlatan attempt, quietly taking a few steps aside knowing that goalkeeper Mampaey was out of position, and scoring his fourth of the season with a low, well-aimed shot (14).

An early goal was exactly what Ajax needed against FC Den Bosch. The Eredivisie's ultimate small-timer sits in a surprising 10th slot on the table, a position coach Wiljan Vloet and his men have achieved by playing defensive, sometimes destructive football. Many teams that should have easily won in Den Bosch (Feyenoord, SC Heerenveen, Vitesse) were taught the hard way that it's not easy to beat the blue and white squad in Ecco Stadium, probably the most unsightly ground in the Eredivisie, with one of the most dreadful pitches, too.

Van der Meyde's excellent strike should have compelled the home team to attack, and it was truly surprising that they did not dare to do so until the final fifteen minutes of the game. Even then: Den Bosch looked more dangerous than they really were. The only way Den Bosch could put Ajax under pressure was by kicking long balls forward (mostly by veteran, Fred van der Hoorn), towards tall and strong strikers Fabian de Freitas and Bart Van Den Eede. Unfortunately for Den Bosch, they lacked any better ideas.

The only time Den Bosch came close to scoring was when Deckers shot from a distance, but Joey Didulica - still the man of choice, in default of Fred Grim - saved adequately. Didulica had a relatively quiet afternoon, also because of the fact that central defenders André Bergdølmo and Cristian Chivu played superb games. They were the best Ajacieden, along with - surprisingly - Tomás Galásek, who seemed to be everywhere. In midfield, he was the leader of Ajax today - and not Rafaël van der Vaart.

That's reassuring, since Ronald Koeman will have to miss out on his topscorer next week at Willem II. Van der Vaart received his third yellow card and faces a one game suspension. Four more players were booked. An amazingly high number in such a dull game, which says a lot about the hilariously weak referee: Roelof Luinge. FC Den Bosch and Ajax treated each other with plenty of respect, but Luinge still saw reasons for one ridiculous yellow card after the other: Mourad and Van der Meyde got one for kicking a ball after Luinge had already whistled, whereas Didulica was booked for dawdling in taking a free kick.

By fits and starts, Ajax showed decent football in the first half, in which Wamberto should have doubled the score after getting himself face-to-face with Mampaey, and Heitinga was unlucky as the Den Bosch goalie saved his shot by luckily falling exactly onto the ball with his buttocks. The quality of Ajax' play dropped to a very low level in the second half, in which Ajax substitutes Maxwell and Jan van Halst (his return to Eredivisie action!) failed to impress, and both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his replacement Nikos Machlas had a complete off-day. The most spectacular moment was a Galásek shot which bounced on the cross-bar via Mampaey's hands.

This was a game we should forget as soon as possible. The only good thing about it were the three points, which made it a good weekend for Ajax, as rivals Feyenoord lost two points in Utrecht (2-2). Ajax is back at the top of the table. If Feyenoord win the game they still have in hand, both teams will have exactly the same number of points.

Next week, Ajax is due in the North-Brabant province again, in Tilburg against Willem II. A more attractive opponent, most definitely, with a more offensive philosophy and also with more quality. Ajax will have to play better than they did in Den Bosch if they want to win there. And they'll have to do it without Rafaël van der Vaart. (MP)

GOAL

• 14' 0-1 Andy van der Meyde

Referee: Luinge
Yellow cards: Mourad (FC Den Bosch), Van der Vaart, De Cler, Van der Meyde, Didulica (Ajax)
Attendance: 6,155

Ajax line-up: Didulica; Heitinga, Bergdølmo, Chivu, De Cler; Galásek, Knopper (73. Van Halst), Van der Vaart; Van der Meyde, Zlatan (77. Machlas), Wamberto (66. Maxwell).

FC Den Bosch line-up: Mampaey; Faerber, Meye (70. Burg), Van der Hoorn, Plum; Mourad, Michels, Van de Laak, Deckers (83. Razic); De Freitas, Van Den Eede.

Related Links:

• Discussion: Ajax current form
• AVI video: Van der Meyde goal, Koeman comments
• Ajax.nl: Match report (in Dutch, with pictures)