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Match Report: Victory in 'The Classic'; Ajax beat Feyenoord at De Kuip

06 October: With delightful soccer and a strong Zlatan in the line-up, Ajax beat Feyenoord at home for the second time in a row, 1-2. A victory of historical significance, as Ajax now has won just as many 'Classics' in De Kuip as Feyenoord has (16) since professional soccer began in Holland.

Despite the absence of wingers Sikora (knee-injury) and Van der Meijde (flu), coach Ronald Koeman did start with an attacking 4-3-3 line-up. Wamberto on the left side and Pienaar on the right side were the wingers for this Sunday. With the mediocre play from especially Van der Meijde over the past weeks, one could doubt if this new line-up made the team actually any worse. On the contrary, the answer should be, since the two wingers played an important role in this match.

Koeman's choice for an offensive line-up was a smart one, since the defense of Feyenoord is their weakest spot. In Brett Emerton they have one of the best backs in Europe, but with Thomasz Rzasa one of the worst. Therefore the most dangerous moments started on the right side of Ajax, with occasional winger Steven Pienaar and with the famous rushes by Hatem Trabelsi.

But Zlatan also had an easy opponent in Ferry de Haan, the player who had to replace the injured Van Wonderen. Zlatan won almost every battle and could therefore serve as one of the best players on the pitch. He was very strong on the ball and generous with passes to his fellow players. The often criticized Swede played no longer as a 'junior' (in the words of Johan Cruijff) but controlled the game as a mature striker.

Koeman, who wanted him to leave just two months ago, was very happy with Zlatan's performance: "He played the way I want him to play. You could see that especially when he had to be replaced by Mido as a result of a minor injury. Mido can't possess the ball so well and is less smart. Therefore we had less ball possession at the end of the game."

The substitution of Zlatan came when it was already 2-1. In the first half it was Wamberto who had given Ajax the lead with a great goal. Emerton couldn't control a crossed pass by Van Damme, and Wamberto beautifully curled the ball into the right corner. The goal scorer didn't make it to half time, as a violent foul from Paul Bosvelt sent him out of the game. Referee Roelf Luinge can be criticized for failing to book Bosvelt on the play. Critics will also cite his non-action on a similarly audacious foul by Van Persie on Trabelsi in the second half.

After Wamberto's goal, Ajax took over the game while Feyenoord virtually collapsed. Up to that moment, the hosts had shown an ability to control the midfield and create some dangerous. But after the first goal, they seemed ready for the knock-out, which Ajax initially failed to deliver. The Amsterdammers created several good chances, but failed to score.

Finally, the fully deserved 0-2 came just before half-time, after a very nice combination between Zlatan and Pienaar. The South-African presented the ball to Jari Litmanen, who took Feyenoord goalie Zoetebier out of the play with a perfectly placed shot in the low corner. It was Litmanen's first goal after his return this season, but his 9th goal for Ajax against Feyenoord in the eight Classics in which he's played so far. Interesting fact: the Finn has never lost in any Classic.

In the second half, Feyenoord played stronger, especially thanks to substitutes Kalou and Van Persie, replacing Buffel and Pardo. Feyenoord supporters may question Van Marwijk's decision not to line them up from the start, as the two created the most dangerous moments for Feyenoord in the match. First it was Kalou who gave Van Hooijdonk the opportunity to the close the gap, 1-2. Later, Van Persie came tantalizingly close to equalizing, but his smashing free kick hit the cross bar.

Despite the chances Feyenoord created in the second half, Ajax managed to hold onto their 1-2 lead. In the end, their fully deserved victory lent merit to the argument that this Ajax team is more effective in an offensive style. How needless the defensive and lackluster draw against Rosenborg a few days ago. But with the draw of PSV against NAC on Saturday, it turned out to be a very lucrative week after all. (BV)

GOALS

• 23' 0-1 Wamberto
• 43' 0-2 Jari Litmanen
• 56' 1-2 Pierre van Hooijdonk

Referee: Luinge
Yellow cards: Witschge, Boukhari (Ajax), Van Persie (Feyenoord)
Attendance: 42,200

Ajax line-up: Stekelenburg, Bergdølmo, Chivu, Trabelsi, Van Damme, Galásek, Litmanen (73. Yakubu), Pienaar, Witschge, Wamberto (41. Boukhari), Zlatan (72. Mido)

Feyenoord line-up: Zoetebier, de Haan (77. Lurling), Emerton, Paauwe, Bosvelt, Ono, Rzasa, Song, Buffel (46. Kalou), Pardo (46. Van Persie), Van Hooijdonk

Related Links:

• Discussion: Ajax vs. Feyenoord - "The Classic"
• Discussion: Eredivisie Games
• Profile: Feyenoord
• Supershota: Goals (AVI video)
• Ajax Netwerk: Classic statistics in De Kuip
• Feyenoord.com: Feyenoord found lacking by Ajax (nice headline, and good pictures at bottom)
• Ajax.nl: Match Report (in Dutch)