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Match Report: Ajax concedes first goal in preparation campaign

Hoogeveen
1 (1)		7 (3)
Sportspark Bentinckspark, Hoogeveen Saturday, 14 July 2001

14 July: Ajax has lifted its number of goals to 29, scored in three games. North-eastern First Class amateur side, Hoogeveen, was beaten 1-7 in a poor game, in which Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his 10th and 11th goal for Ajax. Last season's top scorer, Shota Arveladze, was the top scorer of the day with three succesful strikes.

As against Theole, it took Ajax relatively long to score the first goalof the day: Tomas Galásek scored it. Ten minutes later, Hoogeveen striker Reinders became the first footballer of the season to beat the Ajax goalkeeper (Bogdan Lobont, in this case), surprisingly equalizing for the amateurs. Ibrahimovic and Van der Meyde made sure Ajax was back in the lead at half time.

Surprisingly, coach Co Adriaanse substituted only one player in the entire game: Richard Knopper was replaced by Maxwell at half time. "I wanted to see a see a number of players play longer. I've made my choice based on position and fitness." Witschge, Winter, Vierklau, Piqué and Van der Gun were left out of the squad. Grim, Chivu and Machlas were injured, whereas Van der Vaart and Heitinga are to join the team on 19 July. Mido, finally, had to play a game with Egypt's national team (beating Namibia, 8-2).

Adriaanse experimented with Maxwell as aleft winger: "Wamberto is suspended for the first Champions League game, Mido's not available and I thought Arveladze did not play well on the left flank. So I tried Maxwell. But you can see he's a real left back."

Shota Arveladze did much better as a central forward, scoring a pure hattrick in 17 minutes time, before Zlatan Ibrahimovic added his second of the day. Ajax' next opponent is, theoretically, the strongest side from the string of amateur teams Ajax is facing: Oldenzaal's Quick '20, playing in the Top Class of Dutch amateur football. (MP)

GOALS

21' 0-1 Tomas Galásek
31' 1-1 Reinders
33' 1-2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
37' 1-3 Andy van der Meyde
56' 1-4 Shota Arveladze (penalty)
65' 1-5 Shota Arveladze
73' 1-6 Shota Arveladze
78' 1-7 Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Line-up Ajax: Lobont; Cruz, Pasanen, Yakubu, De Cler; Galásek, Knopper (45. Maxwell), O´Brien; Van der Meyde, Ibrahimovic, Arveladze.