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Close shave for Ajax after impressive silence for America

There was no music, no official 'Man Of The Match', no artist performing before the game, no penalty shoot-out for youngsters during the half-time break and no merchandise was sold. Instead, there were mourning bands around the arms of the Ajax eleven, numerous 'star spangled banners' in the Amsterdam ArenA and an impressive minute of respect for the victims of the tragedy in the U.S., during which chairman Michael van Praag joined the F-Side. The rain, ticking on the closed ArenA roof, was the only sound to break the silence. After that, Ajax booked an extremely late 1-0 victory, against AZ from Alkmaar.

The moments of sympathy for the U.S. were beautiful and moving, especially because Ajax' only American, John O'Brien, made his return in the first selection, coming back from an injury. It allowed him to witness the moments of deep and sincere respect for the victims of the terrible events in his fatherland.

Watching this game at the Amsterdam ArenA felt weird. Playing it probably even more so. Should it have been played in the first place? Probably so: the KNVB asked the Eredivisie clubs whether they wanted to play and the majority said 'yes'. But was it okay to celebrate goals and was it okay to yell and to encourage the teams?

Both crowd and teams seemed to be overwhelmed and extended the one minute of silence with 45 more, both on and off the pitch. Zlatan should have been rewarded a penalty after being 'sandwiched' by two AZ defenders, but apart from that, nothing special happened in the first half, in a deadly silent Amsterdam ArenA.

"If you decide to play, there's no excuse and you'll have to play well", Co Adriaanse said before the game. Apparently, he repeated those words to his players in the dressing-rooms, during the half-time break. It had the desired effect: Ajax actually started playing football in the second half, and the crowd was infected by that straight away. Ajax vs AZ was a game during the 45 minutes of the second half. It was half a game, in a way. But was half a game still enough to force the Alkmaar side to its knees?

	Rafael van der Vaart celebrates his last-gasp game-winning goal. [Source: ATP]

Ajax' play improved, but real danger? No. There was a good looking Zlatan header, a fine Wamberto run, a few Chivu shots, but the score-sheet remained blank and time was running out. In the mean time, AZ got its only chance of the game: substitute Dries Boussatta was offered an open shooting opportunity, but fired over Fred Grim's goal. The seconds were ticking away rapidly, especially because referee Buiting allowed AZ goalkeeper, Oscar Moens, to take all time in the world for his many goal kicks.

Just like in last week's game at FC Twente, Egyptian substitute Mido was a crucial factor in the latter 25 minutes of the game. His entrance ended Nikos Machlas' dramatically weak performance. Mido made clear that he deserves a position in the starting line-up, being far more aggressive as well as effective in his runs, short passing and crosses. The Egyptian was an important factor in Ajax' unexpected and extremely late winner. After Zlatan had missed a few minor chances, the Amsterdam hopes vanished, but a desperate long ball was flicked on by Zlatan, then by Mido - and calmly pushed into the net by Rafaël van der Vaart, over two minutes into stoppage time.

An unconvincing victory, yes, but not an undeserved one. Ajax was the dominant side throughout the game and should have been given a penalty in the first half. In the end, the game was won by the team that tried to win. The team trying to win seconds with every goal kick, was not rewarded for that. Which can never be called 'undeserved'.

Ajax is second in the league now - two points behind Feyenoord, but with one game in hand to jump to number one. Champions PSV finds itself back six points behind the Amsterdammers, and continued their misery with their second defeat of the young season, this time at NAC (2-0). With a 'virtual' top ranking, an unbeaten record in hand and home games against relative small-timers Apollon Limassol and Sparta Rotterdam coming up, there are plenty of reasons for Ajax to be optimistic.

However, last Tuesday puts this victory in a totally different perspective. The Ajax players were very well aware that football is not a matter of life and death, and that - sadly enough - the events in Manhattan, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania were. This week brought Ajax a league victory, which is nice, but mankind suffered the most painful of defeats. Let's never forget that. There's no Ajacied in the world who ever wants to experience a week like this one again. (MP)

GOAL

• 90' 1-0 Rafaël van der Vaart

Referee: Buiting
Yellow card: Lindenbergh (AZ)
Attendance: 32,353

Ajax line-up: Grim; Trabelsi, Heitinga, Chivu, Bergdølmo; Yakubu, Wamberto, Van der Vaart, Maxwell (73. Piqué); Machlas (68. Mido), Ibrahimovic.

AZ line-up: Moens; Lindenbergh, Wijker, Opdam, El Hadrioui; Mans, Buskermolen, Kromkamp, Van Galen, Nelisse (76. Boussatta), Elkhattabi (85. Lee).