Ajax 12 points clear of PSV after exciting draw at AZ
1 (0) - 1
(0)
Holland Casino Eredivisie
Alkmaarderhout,
Alkmaar
Sunday, 28 March, 2004
As far as there was any doubt left,
it evaporated today: PSV has thrown in the
towel. The Dutch champions of 2004 will be Ajax. The
only remaining question: when will Ajax get to
lift the shield? The answer: maybe even before Queens' Day
(30 April). Ajax's lead has increased quickly in recent
weeks. Even today they gained a point, in spite of the
fact that PSV kicked off at 14:30, knowing that Ajax had
just dropped two points at AZ in Alkmaar (kick-off
12:30). However, PSV did not take advantage. They
lost at Willem II (3-1), their fourth defeat (!)
in the last six games. Ajax requires only nine points from the
remaining seven games - if PSV wins
everything from now on.
Steven Pienaar and Tim de Cler
battle for possession. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
Ajax knew that the away fixture at Alkmaarderhout stadium
was arguably one of the two toughest remaining matches on its
agenda (the other one being the 11 April 'Classic' in
Rotterdam). And so it showed: AZ, coached by former Ajax boss
Co Adriaanse, showed why they will almost certainly clinch a
UEFA Cup slot for next season. The Alkmaar outfit played fast,
accurate, offensive and pleasantly aggressive football
throughout. They had self-confidence
and determination and, at the end of the
day, they fully deserved the point that was claimed in the
89th minute by former Ajacied Olaf Lindenbergh, whose
opportunistic, but well-taken shot from the edge of the
penalty box slammed home behind Bogdan Lobont: 1-1.
As for Ajax: the team did not look as
smart as last week against Vitesse, but you could hardly
say that the team performed poorly. AZ vs Ajax
was a football game of a kind that the Dutch
Eredivisie could use more of: a game between two
teams capable of playing fast one-touch football
and, even more importantly, two teams that were well
matched, unafraid and willing to work hard. Both teams
went for a win, but could eventually live with a
draw. You could say it was an 'English' game: a
battle, with no room for artists, but thoroughly enjoyable and
exciting until the end.
Real scoring chances were scarce on both sides. The only
chance for Ajax in the first half was a header attempt by
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (saved just before the line by goalkeeper
Henk Timmer). The Swedish striker returned to the starting
eleven for his 100th official performance as an Ajacied. The
only other change in the team was more surprising: Nicolae
Mitea started on the bench, as Victor Sikora played from the
start. AZ, too, had only one real chance, but Bogdan
Lobont saved adequately on a Robin Nelisse shot. Yet, the hosts
were the more dangerous team in the first half, especially on
set pieces.
Ibrahimovic celebrates his
spectacular goal. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
The opening phase of the second half, however, was dominated
by Ajax. And although former Ajacied Denny Landzaat had the
best scoring chance, the Amsterdammers took the lead, as a
Rafaël van der Vaart cross was converted into a goal in
spectacular fashion by Zlatan Ibrahimovic (64'). Was it a
bicycle kick, or more of a backward flick? Either way: the
Swede was pulled aside by Finnish defender Juha Reini
and saw no other option than trying to volley
backwards. One of the greatest goals of the season,
without a doubt.
AZ did not surrender and continued to play fine football,
but in the fifteen minutes after Ibrahimovic's stunning strike
Ajax should have decided the game. Rafaël van der
Vaart had the best chance, as Steven Pienaar's cross went over
everyone's heads and dropped right on Van der Vaart's boot,
making for an unmarked finishing opportunity, one yard from the
goal-line. Henk Timmer (another AZ man with an Ajax
past) saved with his foot. Steven Pienaar also had an
open chance in the 83rd minute, but Timmer saved again. Zlatan
Ibrahimovic failed to convert the rebound.
By not dealing the knock-out blow, and by leaning back in
the latter five minutes of the game, Ajax was asking for
trouble, especially as Co Adriaanse brought on tall, strong
Peter Wijker (normally a defender) as an extra battering-ram
upfront. The Amsterdammers apparently expected to survive AZ's
siege in the dying minutes by simply whacking the ball
away, rather than by continuing to play football.
Thanks to Olaf Lindenbergh's formidable strike it turned out
differently. A point each, that was exactly what AZ and Ajax
deserved, Co Adriaanse and Ronald Koeman agreed after the
game.
Lindenbergh celebrates his late
equalizer. [Photo: ANP]
AZ vs Ajax was, once again, an 'English' game of football
and it must be said that the atmosphere at old, ramshackle
Alkmaarderhout was 'English' also, thanks to the passionate
support of the home crowd as well as the travelling Ajax fans,
who were in fine voice throughout. AZ will, no doubt, be a
worthy representative for The Netherlands in the UEFA Cup. As
for Ajax: the Amsterdammers expected to be 'only' nine points
ahead of PSV on Sunday evening. It turned out to be twelve. If
the deficit remains unchanged in the upcoming weeks, Ajax will
- just like in 2002 - get to lift
the shield in Nijmegen's Goffert stadium, on 25 April. (MP)
GOALS
- 64' 0-1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
- 89' 1-1 Olaf Lindenbergh
Referee: Wegereef
Yellow cards: Galásek, Grygera
(Ajax)
Attendance: 8,241
Ajax line-up: Lobont; Grygera, Heitinga,
Escudé, Maxwell; Galásek, Van der Vaart, Sneijder
(66. De Jong); Pienaar (90. De Ridder), Ibrahimovic, Sikora
(59. Mitea).
AZ line-up: Timmer; Kromkamp, Reini (71.
Huysegems), Opdam, De Cler; Buskermolen, Van Galen (78.
Lindenbergh), Landzaat; Meerdink, Nelisse, Perez (84.
Wijker).
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