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Match Report: Superb second half good enough for 6-0 score against NEC

For 45 minutes, Ajax - NEC was a typical 'post-Champions League' game. Ajax, opponent NEC and the crowd; everyone seemed uninspired and passionless. But a tremendous second half - in which five goals were added to the single one before the break, the woodwork was tested several times and a former Ajacied (Youssouf Hersi) was sent off - made for a memorable Sunday afternoon.

It's remarkable how apathetic several Eredivisie opponents have been with Ajax at the ArenA. Two weeks ago Willem II allowed Ajax to book a simple 3-0 win. Today, NEC was even lamer. It must have annoyed NEC coach Johan Neeskens, known in his Ajax days as a merciless fighter. His lads did not seem to have least illusion of booking a result. Incredible, given the fact that the Amsterdammers initially seemed to regard the match as a cooling down training session, after their exhausting midweek Inter game.

Ajax took the lead almost nonchalantly, after fifteen minutes of strolling. Hatem Trabelsi slipped past his opponent as if he wasn't even there and Mido calmly nodded home at the near post: 1-0 (15). A minute before, André Bergdølmo had almost opened the scoring, but his header from a Van der Vaart free-kick hit the cross-bar.

But still, there was no spark. Literally nothing worth mentioning occurred in the remainder of the first half, which took place in a dead-silent ArenA, where even the fanatics of the F-Side apathetically shrugged their shoulders about the game. An NEC comeback in the second half seemed out of the question. Ajax switching to a higher gear seemed equally unlikely.

The spectacular, highly enjoyable football show Ajax displayed in the second half must have surprised everyone: the 46,084 at the ArenA, as well as many viewers of Ajax.nl's succesful free webcast of the game.

NEC's last little sliver of determination was shot to pieces after only two minutes, as the somewhat disappointing Steven Pienaar provided Mido with a fine left-footed cross to head home for his second (47). An early goal in the second half was - apparently - exactly what Ajax needed to get the spirit.

The first Ajacied to acknowledge that a big score was within reach was Andy van der Meyde, who picked up the ball in midfield and decided to simply do everything by himself and run straight towards his target. He made it all the way through the apathetic Nijmegen defence, calmly walked around goalkeeper Gentenaar and pushed home: 3-0 (53), and all of a sudden, that spark was there.

The F-Side and Vak 410 woke up and raised their voices. The 'wave' rolled over the ArenA stands. Once again (André Bergdølmo, who's slowly getting near his form of last season) was close to scoring his first 'field goal' for Ajax. The Norwegian was pulled down as he placed his head against a Van der Vaart free-kick. His header went inches over the cross-bar. The same cross-bar survived the ultimate quality-test minutes later, as it was hit with brutal power by a superb long range shot by Richard Witschge.

About time for Rafaël van der Vaart's weekly goal, you'd say. He scored in every game since his return to Ajax-1. This time, it was a fine Maxwell-Witschge combination over the left flank which the young midfielder pushed against the nets: 4-0 (73).

When the opponent's knock-out on the canvas, the defenders can go forward and have some fun. After Bergdølmo, it was Cristian Chivu's turn in the 75th minute. Just like Andy van der Meyde, the Ajax captain rushed straight through the NEC defense, completely on his own. Face-to-face with Gentenaar, Ajax loanee Youssouf Hersi decide to pull the emergency brake, thereby becoming the second former Ajacied to be sent off in the ArenA this season (after AZ's Tim de Cler). Good for André Bergdølmo, who got to score his well-deserved goal after all, albeit from the penalty spot: 5-0 (77).

In a now roaring ArenA, it was time for some gallery play by Ronald Koeman's squad. First, Tomás Galásek showed once again that no other Ajacied has such a tremendous long range shot. His attempt seemed headed for the upper ninety, but for the third time today, the cross-bar saved goalkeeper Gentenaar. Minutes later, the goalkeeper's fingertips kept Rafaël van der Vaart from scoring Ajax' sixth. His breath-taking lob reminded many older spectators of the magic touch of Johan Cruijff, Marco van Basten, or Dennis Bergkamp - the very, very greatest artists ever to wear the Ajax colours. Stunning.

The goal of the day was now scored in the very last minute, by Nourdin Boukhari, who scores with remarkable ease, for both Ajax-1 and Young Ajax. It was a goal with a story behind it. Boukhari is in the middle of Ramadan, the weeks of Islamic celebrations, during which Muslems are not allowed to eat while the sun's up. Boukhari had not eaten for about ten hours, but apparently he did not feel weak: as he received the ball on the left corner of the penalty box, the Dutch Moroccan released a thundering shot, which slammed into the upper ninety: 6-0 (90). The left winger sank to his knees for a short prayer.

What a finish to the most spectacular half of Ajax football this season. The 6-0 win was not the only thing to be happy about. Feyenoord's 1-2 win in Eindhoven rocketed Ajax back to the top of the table, four points clear of the Rotterdammers and three of PSV. Ajax may need that margin in the upcoming months, now PSV and Feyenoord have no Champions League or even UEFA Cup obligations to worry about anymore. (MP)

GOALS

• 15' 1-0 Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam
• 47' 2-0 Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam
• 53' 3-0 Andy van der Meyde
• 73' 4-0 Rafaël van der Vaart
• 77' 5-0 André Bergdølmo (penalty)
• 90' 6-0 Nourdin Boukhari

Referee: Haverkort
Yellow cards: Wisgerhof, Wielaert (NEC), Galásek (Ajax)
Red card: Hersi (NEC, 76')
Attendance: 46,084

Ajax line-up: Didulica; Trabelsi (56. De Jong), Chivu, Bergdølmo, Maxwell; Galásek, Pienaar (63. Witschge), Van der Vaart; Van der Meyde (74. Boukhari), Mido, Sikora.

NEC line-up: Gentenaar; Wielaert, Wisgerhof, Wegh, Leiwakebessy (82. Owusu); Schuurman, Ax (64. Tumba), Govedarica, Hersi; Demouge, De Nooijer.

Related Links:

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