Ajax advance to group stage on 'silver' Galásek penalty
1 (1) - 1 (1) -
2-1 after extra time
Champions League Qualifier
Amsterdam ArenA,
Amsterdam
Wednesday, 27 August, 2003
Relief in the Amsterdam ArenA: thanks to a Tomás
Galásek a penalty in the first half of extra time, Ajax
finally managed to brush the Austrians of Grazer AK aside. Just
like the away leg a fortnight ago, the game at the ArenA ended
in a 1-1 draw, so that UEFA's new 'silver goal' rule came into
effect for the first time in an Ajax game: when a goal is
scored in extra time, the 15-minute half in which it was scored
must be finished. The fortunate moment for the Amsterdammers
came in the 104th minute, as Wamberto lifted the ball against
the hand of GAK's Ehmann. Tomás Galásek, who
returned from an injury and was the great leader of his team,
didn't fail, making for a narrow escape to the main stage of
the Champions League.
Tomás Galásek
converts the game-winning penalty. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
Ajax made best use of the new 'silver goal' rule by scoring
in the 13th minute of the first half of extra time, so that the
game was practically over and the silver goal almost had the
effect of a 'golden' one. It was a 'golden goal' for Ajax'
treasurer Jeroen Slop in particular, as Ajax will once again be
in the draw for the lucrative Champions League circus on
Thursday. Last year, over-all proceedings of the Champions
League campaign were approximately 20 million euros for
Ajax.
If only for that reason, the result was all that counted in
the encounter with Grazer AK. However, those interested in high
quality football must have had two dreadful evenings, in Graz
as well as in Amsterdam. Although Ajax's play was much better
than in Austria, Ajax had yet another poor match and could
consider itself lucky that GAK striker Roland Kollmann did not
give Ajax the knock-out punch early in the second half.
He could have done so on two occasions in less than three
minutes' time, face to face with Lobont. Kollmann produced the
equalizer just before half time, as an enormous misjudgment by
Julien Escudé gave Kollmann a free passage to Bogdan
Lobont. The tall striker, who was deemed not good enough two
years ago by FC Twente, deftly fired the ball into the upper
corner, leaving Lobont no chance (40').
The equalizer was a bitter disappointment for Ajax. The
Amsterdammers had a great start, with a quick 1-0 by Zlatan
Ibrahimovic as a result: Maxwell controlled the ball on his
chest on the left flank and volleyed an outstanding cross pass
to an unmarked Ibrahimovic, who only needed to contribute a
simple nod to capitalize: 1-0 (15').
Ajax was certainly the better team in the opening phase, and
it didn't look like Grazer AK would be too much of a threat
this evening. But their counter attacks got more dangerous as
the first half ticked away. Big chances for Ramusch and Ehmann
were serious warnings. On both occasions Julien Escudé
saved Ajax with good interventions on goal-line. How
unfortunate for the Frenchman that he later made the mistake
(or did he slip...?) that led to the equalizer.
The equalizer seemed to paralyze the Amsterdammers
completely. The last five minutes of the first half and the
first ten of the second were dramatic and could easily have
brought a second Austrian goal that would probably have been
fatal. Due to the away-goals rule, Ajax would then have
required two more goals in less than one half of play to
advance.
Luckily for the red and white, Ronald Koeman's second half
substitutions made the team stronger: Wesley Sneijder replaced
the weak Jelle Van Damme, and fifteen minutes later Wamberto
took over for the invisible Victor Sikora. The short Brazilian
almost had a dream start, as the first attack which involved
him brought him face to face with goalkeeper Schranz.
Wamberto's hesitated too long and saw his attempt
intercepted.
In the last 25 minutes the game got more aggressive -- and
sometimes nasty. The Austrians in particular committed one foul
after the other, resulting in yellow cards for Milinkovic,
Pogatetz, Naumoski and Pötscher. The latter was rather
unlucky: his push against Wamberto, just before the end of the
regular time, wasn't a clear foul, but the yellow card given
set up his later dismissal. His second yellow card was a fact
in the opening minutes of extra time. Exit Pötscher.
By then, Grazer AK was no longer as lethally dangerous as in
the first part of the match. Their energy seemed to have
vanished, and with only ten players left it was clear that if
one team would score a goal, it would be Ajax. The questions
was: who was going to find the net for Ajax? Real chances were
rarely created, and last year's 'Boy Wonder', Rafaël van
der Vaart, had another of his mediocre, egocentric days.
Zlatan Ibrahimoviç
celebrates his 15th-minute goal. [Photo: ANP]
It was therefore not surprising that the decisive strike
came from the penalty spot. In its previous matches against
Grazer AK (away), Vitesse and RBC Roosendaal, Ajax was hardly
able to produce a 'real' goal. All goals were scored from
dead-ball situations or required a decisive touch by an
opponent. This time a rather clumsy handball led to the penalty
(and a second dismissal for a GAK player, in this case Ehmann),
although it has to be said that Wamberto seemed to have
deserved a penalty earlier on, as he was brought down inside
the penalty box. For a moment it seemed like Ibrahimovic was
going to take the penalty, until Tomás Galásek
stepped forward -- and made no mistake.
After two poor matches against Grazer AK plus two weak
league performances, the good thing might be that expectations
are back to realistic levels. Ajax's underdog position made the
previous run so succesful. And that's exactly what Ajax is
again this year: an underdog, a dark horse in the competition.
Wesley Sneijder, after the game: "This was a very important
match for us. We made it, so the pressure has more or less
disapeared now." Now that the pressure is gone, it is to be
hoped that the fans will finally get to see some fluent play in
the next matches. (BV)
GOALS
- 15' 1-0 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
- 40' 1-1 Roland Kollmann
- 104' 2-1 Tomás Galásek (penalty)
Referee: Ivanov (Russia)
Yellow cards: Sneijder (Ajax), Aufhauser,
Milinkovic, Pogatetz, Naumoski (Grazer AK)
Red cards: Pötscher (double yellow,
95'), Ehmann (double yellow, 103') (Grazer AK)
Attendance: 47,870
Ajax line-up: Lobont; Grygera, Pasanen,
Escudé, Van Damme (55. Sneijder); Galásek, Van
der Vaart, Maxwell; Pienaar (90. Sonck), Ibrahimovic, Sikora
(68. Wamberto).
Grazer AK line-up: Schranz; Pötscher, Tokic,
Ehmann, Pogatetz; Ramusch (74. Standfest), Milinkovic,
Aufhauser, Dollinger; Naumoski (90. Bazina), Kollmann.
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