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Match Report: A good day for defensive Ajax

The end of the competition is near, and Ajax' coach Ronald Koeman clearly doesn't want to lose many more matches. Was that the reason for such defensive tactics this Sunday in Breda? Or was it because of the many injuries his team is suffering? Whatever the reason, Ajax faced hosts NAC with a totally reworked line-up from last week's poor and impotent match. And despite another bad performance, the Amsterdammers were able to come away with all three points, thanks to again to Nikos Machlas. And with the defeat of Feyenoord on the same day, it turned out to be a very lucrative weekend indeed.

With injuries to all three right backs (Trabelsi, Heitinga and Vierklau), Koeman had to juggle his players a lot. O'Brien moved from the left midfield to the right side of defense, while Maxwell took over his midfield position. Koeman played without a real 'number 10'. Jan van Halst returned in the starting line-up, playing just in front of the defense, assisted by Galasek. They both formed more or less the center of the midfield, obliging Van der Meyde to play a more defensive role. Zlatan (again chosen over Machlas) was the lone striker, though somewhat assisted by Mido from the left side.

This line-up was reminiscent of the oft-criticized defensive formation Co Adriaanse used in important matches, a formation ironically named "the Berlin Wall." The main objective was to not lose the match. In this sense, Ajax looked to succeed, as NAC didn't create any danger in the first half. But neither did Ajax. A pitched battle took place in the midfield, and neither NAC nor Ajax could seem to reach their strikers.

That was actually the reason Koeman had chosen Zlatan instead of Machlas: "Because Nikos needs a teammate close to him, and Zlatan doesn't, I chose for the latter. But it was sometimes unlike Ajax, how we just kicked the ball forward."

Zlatan didn't receive much quality service, and when he finally got one he failed to capitalize. In the 23rd minute, Maxwell sent an beautifully accurate and leading pass to an unmarked Zlatan, who needed only to steer the ball into an empty corner, but instead he shot directly into NAC's goalkeeper Babos. Even the resulting rebound was squandered. Then, as if to add insult to injury, the young Swede was judged to have been off-side during the entire series, anyway.

So it had to be Machlas again who would score the goals in this match. Koeman waited until the 66th minute to bring him on, and the Greek scored just six minutes later, once again as a result of a magnificent individual effort from Maxwell. The Brazilian - who is having a difficult time at the moment after the death of his brother - played an excellent match, providing the attacking impulses Ajax otherwise lacked in the absence of Rafael Van der Vaart. In the 72nd minute, he dribbled with deftness and tenacity through three NAC defenders before sliding an unmissable cross to Machlas. If the Greek hadn't converted, a waiting Zlatan surely would have. It's possible that Zlatan was off-sides on the play, but the flag stayed down and the goal was allowed. (Follow the link at bottom of this report for AVI video of the goal.)

Later in the match, Zlatan had another chance to silence his critics, but his well-struck header was just barely saved by Babos. After that, it was NAC who fiercely strove for the equalizer. Ajax staggered, but thanks to an excellent performance by goalkeeper Joey Didulica, NAC wasn't able to score. The Australian keeper played in place of an ailing Fred Grim (flu). Even when Grim returns to health, it's possible that Koeman will opt for Didulica in the coming weeks, considering that Grim's contract won't be extended after this season. The young Australian has performed solidly in his occasional appearances this season, and seems ready for the job. (BV)

GOALS:

• 72' 0-1 Nikos Machlas

Referee: Temmink
Yellow cards: De Cler, Maxwell, Zlatan (Ajax), Stewart, Schenning (NAC)
Attendance: 15,900

Ajax line-up: Didulica, O'Brien, Bergdølmo, Chivu, De Cler (46' Pienaar), Galásek (66' Wamberto), Van Halst, Maxwell, Van der Meyde, Zlatan, Mido (66' Machlas)

NAC line-up: Babos; Feher, Penders, Schenning, Gudelj, Petö, Stewart, Schreuder, Cristiano (66' Salmon), Hersi (53' Sergio), Bobson

Related Links:

• Discussion: Ajax current form
• AVI Video: Machlas' goal
• Ajax.nl: Match Report (in Dutch, with pictures)