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Match Report: Weak Willem II wearily surrenders to spiritless Ajax: 3-0

Their previous 28 visits to Ajax did not bring Willem II a single victory: 24 games were lost, as a meagre four draws were notched from Amsterdam. Such historic statistics are irrelevant, you'd say, but it seemed as if those facts completely discouraged the visitors, who wearily bowed their heads after Mido's early opening goal. Ajax seemed tired, poorly concentrated and spiritless, but easily brushed the harmless Tilburg lot aside. The final score of the most boring Ajax game so far this season looks much more convincing than it was: 3-0. Ajax is back at the top of the Eredivisie table, after PSV's goalless draw at FC Twente on Saturday night.

A team fighting for every inch of grass could have given Ajax a really hard time, only half a week after the exciting but exhausting 'Battle Of Lyon'. But after last weekend's 5-1 scolding at Feyenoord, Willem II coach Mark Wotte decided to be cautious. This turned out to be exactly what the visibly tired, undetermined Ajax eleven needed.

Plus, of course, an early opening goal. Mido took care of that. The Egyptian - who takes turns with Zlatan in the starting team, during these busy weeks - took his time to control a low Van der Meyde cross and fumbled it past Belgium's national goalkeeper Geert de Vlieger, as early as in the 9th minute: 1-0.

Almost immediately, Willem II's faith in a good result seemed to vanish, although Mariana was close to equalizing with two magnificent long-range shots, aimed for the upper ninety. Joey Didulica brilliantly saved the first; the second hit the outside of the post. It was all Willem II had to offer today in the - once again - well filled Amsterdam ArenA. Ajax loanee Cedric van der Gun and his forward colleague Tarik Sektioui did what they could in the first half, but failed to make a real impression.

An equally nice long range shot came from Nigel de Jong's right foot in the 20th minute. It was good for a round of applause for the 17 year-old, without a doubt one of the most spectacular débutantes from the youth ranks in years. De Jong played at the position of suspended Cris Chivu today, keeping Petri Pasanen and Abubakari Yakubu out of the team. He did it as if he had years of experience. With De Jong instead of Chivu and Van Damme instead of O'Brien, the Ajax defence kept the scoresheet blank for the second time this season. A reassuring thought. In the Champions League thriller against Inter, on 12 November, Ajax will have to do with these back four as well.

Nigel de Jong, for one, seems ready for the job. His coach: "We will talk with Nigel in December. I find it amazing how mature he is playing. He has great qualities, he hardly makes mistakes and he is very aggressive in duels. He deserves a major compliment. I will keep him with the A-squad. When a player is developing like this, it is not good for him to step back again."

The only remaining moment from the first half that deserves to be mentioned, was the 100% scoring chance missed by Rafaël van der Vaart, who was in the starting eleven for the first time since 01 September. It was offered to him by Mido, who smartly nodded the ball towards him for a free passage. But Van der Vaart wildly shot wide.

Quite frankly, fan favourite Van der Vaart played a weak game anyway. Nevertheless, he was voted 'Man Of The Match', mainly due to the absolutely superb way in which he secured the three points for Ajax. Sent on his way by a Mido header, the Van der Vaart fired high into the corner, via the inside of the post, with almost frightening precision: 2-0 (72). A true marvel of a goal, after 60 minutes of comparatively dull football.

The 48,248 spectators ended up leaving the ArenA with a smile on their faces after all, courtesy of Steven Pienaar and - to a lesser extent - Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who brought some spice and sassiness to the latter stages of the game. The South-African in particular is in great form. After having shown a few entertaining dribbles, he slipped through the Willem II defence and diagonally pushed the ball past De Vlieger for Ajax' third (88'), thereby converting one of the very few fluent Ajax attacks of the day.

After such a tough and exhausting Champions League game, it's all about the three points, as they say. They were grabbed, no Ajax players got injured or booked and no goal was conceded. Now, let's forget about this game as quickly as possible, knowing that next Friday's tie at the Eredivisie's #4, Roda JC, will definitely be lost if Ajax plays like this again. (MP)

GOALS

• 09' 1-0 Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam
• 72' 2-0 Rafaël van der Vaart
• 88' 3-0 Steven Pienaar

Referee: Jol
Yellow cards: Mariana, Sektioui (Willem II)
Attendance: 48,248

Ajax line-up: Didulica; Trabelsi, De Jong, Bergdølmo, Van Damme; Galásek, Van der Vaart (74. Zlatan), Maxwell; Van der Meyde (46. Witschge), Mido, Sikora (68. Pienaar).

Willem II line-up: De Vlieger; Jaliens, Mathijsen, Van Nieuwstadt, Janssen; Landzaat, Victoria (72. Mourad), Mathijssen, Mariana (72. Shoukov); Sektioui, Van der Gun.

Related Links:

• Discussion: Eredivisie Games
• Supershota: Goals (AVI video)
• Ajax.nl: Match Report (in Dutch, with pictures)