0721.html

Match Report: Ajax scores ten for Co's birthday

Ajax has played its last friendly game before the Amsterdam Tournament. On Co Adriaanse's 54th birthday, his team scored ten goals against First Class amateur side RKHVV, the 'Roman Catholic Football Club of Huissen'.

After initial injury trouble, due to the heavy training schedule Adriaanse followed, the coach had his full squad to his availability, except for Brazilian defender Maxwell. Adriaanse said to be satisfied about the training camp in De Lutte, which ended today: "We have trained very hard, and the number of injuries was lower than expected. Now I roughly know what this season's team is going to be."

The line-up against RKHVV looked somewhat experimental, with Johnny Heitinga and André Bergdølmo as the duo in the heart of the defense, and Cristian Chivu as a left back. Chivu, however, does not feel uncomfortable there: "In the Romania team I play as a left back or left midfielder all the time, and I do it well. It doesn't matter where I play, as long as I'm in the team."

The fourth defender in the first half was Tunisian right back, Hatem Trabelsi, whose trial at Ajax is now over. Adriaanse: "I am satisfied abou Trabelsi. My impression of him is positive. However, that doesn't automatically mean we're gonna buy him. But we're gonna decide about him shortly."

With Zlatan and Machlas still on the bench, Ajax scored four times in the first half. Half of the production was scored by Richard Knopper, Ajax' captain in the first 45 minutes.

Adriaanse brought in all his substitutes for the second half, except for Fred Grim, allowing Bogdan Lobont to play the full 90 minutes. With Machlas and Zlatan on the pitch, Ajax was more productive in the second half, scoring six. Half a game was enough for the Swede to strike three times and become the topscorer of the day once again. After having scored three against SV Vaassen on Thursday, right winger Andy van der Meyde continued his goalscoring streak, with two goals.

Ajax has returned to Amsterdam today and now has a five more days of training to go before the big testcase of the pre-season campaign: the Amsterdam Tournament at the ArenA. AC Milan is the first opponent on Thursday, a side against which Ajax can really show if they're ready for the Champions League qualifying battle against Celtic. (MP)

(Source: Ajax.nl)

GOALS

• 10' 0-1 Shota Arveladze
• 18' 0-2 Richard Knopper
• 27' 0-3 Richard Knopper
• 34' 0-4 Wamberto
• 63' 0-5 Nikos Machlas
• 75' 0-6 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
• 77' 0-7 Andy van der Meyde
• 82' 0-8 Andy van der Meyde
• 88' 0-9 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
• 89' 0-10 Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Line-up Ajax: Lobont; Trabelsi, Heitinga (Pasanen), Bergdølmo (Yakubu), Chivu; Cruz (Galásek), Knopper (Machlas), Van der Vaart (O´Brien); Ikedia (Van der Meyde), Arveladze (Zlatan), Wamberto (De Cler).

Related Links:

• Discussion: Ajax current form