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Match Report: Mido scores six in last pre-season friendly

01 August: Ajax has finished off a succesful pre-season campaign with a 0-10 victory at Top Class amateur side, Rijnsburgse Boys. New left winger, Mido, scored six of the Amsterdam goals. The Egyptian was optimistic in his post-game comment: "We're ready for it."

Coach Co Adriaanse seems to have made up his mind, knowing that he well have to miss out on his captain, Tomás Galásek, and defender Tim de Cler for another five or six weeks. Defender, Mitchell Piqué, is injured as well. The line-up in Rijnsburg seemed a realistic reflection of what the starting line-up will be on Wednesday, in the first game against Celtic.

Fred Grim seems to have won the battle with Bogdan Lobont: the 35 year-old played the full 90 minutes as Ajax' captain. For the right back position, Adriaanse seems to be in favour of Daniël Cruz, after John O'Brien's performed poorly against AC Milan. However, the American was in the starting line-up, as Galásek's replacement on midfield. But O'Brien was unlucky once again. He got injured after a collision with an opponent and walked off the pitch after only 18 minutes, dragging his leg.

Almost certainly, Cruz, Pasanen, Yakubu and Chivu will be Ajax' defensive quartet against Celtic. If O'Brien recovers in time, he seems to be the number one candidate to replace Tomás Galásek, Rafaël van der Vaart is Ajax' unrivalled creative force on midfield. Andy van der Meyde seems to get the benefit of the doubt on the right wing, after a poor season last year, but a fine pre-season campaign. Zlatan and Mido are sure of their spot.

The 'number ten' position, directly behind centre forward, Zlatan, seems to be the only question mark left: will Adriaanse choose for the man who scored twice against Liverpool and seems to click with Zlatan very well (Nikos Machlas), or will he go for a better runner, more capable of defensive work at midfield (Richard Knopper)? The latter was in the starting line-up, but he was replaced by Machlas, who scored Ajax' last goal of the night.

They are now the only two candidates for the position of 'shadow striker', since the Ajax management decided not to line up Shota Arveladze until he has either signed a new contract, or decided to go.

Some of Mido's goals were of outstanding beauty, such as a diving header making it 0-2 and a superb shot making it 0-6. The 0-10 result is insignificant after Ajax' talent (against Liverpool) and vulnerability (against AC Milan) both were so obviously stressed during the Amsterdam Tournament. "I deliberately chose to play our final test game against an amateur side", said Co Adriaanse. "It's better to conclude to finish the preparations off with a large victory than with a possible defeat against a major opponent."

While Ajax was playing in Rijnsburg, Champions League opponents Celtic displayed their power in an impressive clash at Manchester United. As a true workaholic, the Ajax coach surely watched that game on video as soon he arrived home. He knows what his line-up will be, he knows the powers and weaknesses of his squad. And by now, he should also know how strong Celtic is. Less than one week to go, before it's for real. (MP)

(Source: Ajax.nl)

GOALS:

• 07' 0-1 Mido
• 13' 0-2 Mido
• 26' 0-3 Cristian Chivu (penalty)
• 31' 0-4 Andy van der Meyde
• 44' 0-5 Mido
• 63' 0-6 Mido
• 66' 0-7 Rafaël van der Vaart
• 76' 0-8 Mido
• 87' 0-9 Mido
• 88' 0-10 Nikos Machlas

Ajax line-up: Grim; Cruz, Pasanen, Yakubu, Chivu; O'Brien (Bergd¢lmo [Trabelsi]), Knopper (Machlas), Van der Vaart; Van der Meyde (Ikedia), Zlatan (Maxwell), Mido.

Related Links:

• Discussion: Ajax current form