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Match Report: Absolutely no chance against Celtic

08 August: Co Adriaanse can already start taking a look at the possible opponents in the first round of the UEFA Cup, now that Celtic Glasgow have turned Champions League qualification into a fantasy. The young, unbalanced Ajax team was outclassed by the superior Scottish champions, who were technically, tactically, physically and mentally stronger: 1-3, a result which reduces the second leg in Glasgow to a formality: Ajax would have to win by three goals in Glasgow's Celtic Park on the 22nd to advance.

	Celtic fans and riot police clash during Wednesday's Champions League game at the Amsterdam ArenA. [source: ANP]

Immediately after the game, the discussion about Co Adriaanse's tactical system blazed up in the Dutch press. Once again, the Ajax manager chose for a system that looked more like 4-2-4 than 4-3-3, with two central forwards (Shota Arveladze and Nikos Machlas) and a winger on both flanks (Pius Ikedia and Mido). In default of captain, Tomßs Galßsek, youngsters Daniel Cruz (20) and Rafael van der Vaart (18) were the only two real midfielders.

They had no chance of controlling whatsoever, seeing a multitude of Scotsmen rumbling by throughout the game. "This was suicide," said Cruz, thereby implicitly criticizing Adriaanse's tactical system. Technical director Leo Beenhakker did the same by calling Ajax' system "naive" after AC Milan had ripped the Amsterdammers apart during the Amsterdam Tournament.

Adriaanse's main ambition was not to concede a goal. Ajax had already failed in achieving that by the 7th minute. Fred Grim made a mistake (not his first in Ajax-1) by punching a catchable Sutton cross straight into Bobby Petta's feet. The player from Feyenoord's youth system fired home well: 0-1. So far for keeping Grim's goal clean. The first half hour was a copy of the game against Milan, in which the difference in quality seemed to be huge and Celtic could have scored more goals than just two: Chris Sutton hit the cross-bar with a fabulous header from the Scots' very first corner of the game. Inevitably, Didier Agathe (launched over the right flank by Larsson) finished off his run in style, making it 0-2 at the 20th minute.

Chances for Ajax? One, to be precise, but it was a good one, for Mido. The Egyptian failed in the 25th minute, standing face-to-face with goalkeeper Douglas. Nevertheless, Ajax got much more than it deserved when Shota Arveladze pulled on back from close range, six minutes before half-time, after Douglas couldn't hold on to a Nikos Machlas attempt. The first half was nothing less than a Celtic showcase, finished off by one more open scoring chance for Chris Sutton and - this time - a fine Grim save. A difference of only one goal halfway the game was a small miracle.

Whatever hope remained for Ajax in the second half was vanquished as Chris Sutton headed home Celtic's formidable third from an Agathe cross, in a phase in which Ajax seemed to finally have its system sorted out. Nikos Machlas saw Douglas save a good chance to score the fully undeserved equalizer. The third Celtic goal knocked Ajax out. Chris Sutton could even have scored Celtic's fourth. Grim tipped the ball over the cross-bar. One more fine save, but he couldn't possibly make up for his 7th minute blunder.

Ajax had no chance in the world against this Celtic team, which is much stronger than the team and its fantastic fans seem to realize. They will most definitely be able to take some of Spain's and Italy's giants by surprise in the Champions League. Ajax will need at least one more year of patience, plus a healthy sense of tactical reality, before they'll get a new chance to try. Unless a miracle occurs, there's no way in the world Ajax is gonna win 0-3 at Celtic Park. There's only one advantage to losing in this fashion: it makes it really easy for Ajax fans to accept that their team does not belong in the Champions League. Yet. (MP)

GOALS:

• 07' 0-1 Bobby Petta
• 20' 0-2 Didier Agathe
• 39' 1-2 Shota Arveladze
• 55' 1-3 Chris Sutton

Referee: Lopez Nieto (Spain)
Yellow cards: Van der Vaart (Ajax), Lennon (Celtic)
Attendance: 51,324

Ajax line-up: Grim; Trabelsi, Yakubu (75. Van der Meyde), Pasanen, Chivu; Cruz, Van der Vaart; Ikedia (46. Ibrahimovic), Machlas, Arveladze, Mido.
Celtic line-up: Douglas; Boyd, McNamara, Velgaeren, Lambert; Agathe, Lennon, Petta (87. Guppy), Mjallby; Larsson (83. Hartson), Sutton.

Related Links:

• Discussion: European Opponents
• Official Celtic FC website