Ajax finishes season with freewheeling 2-5 win
2 (1) - 5
(1)
Holland Casino Eredivisie
Willem II
Stadium, Tilburg
Sunday, 16 May, 2004
The 2003-2004 Eredivisie is over and Ajax finished it like a
champion should: with a win and a hatful of goals. The 34th and
last fixture of the season, at Willem II Stadium in Tilburg,
was perfectly unimportant for both sides. This was underscored
in the first half by lame, apathetic play by both teams and in
the second half by some 'freewheeling' by Ajax. The
Amsterdammers netted four goals, making for a 2-5 final
score.
Man-of-the-Match Anthony Obodai
celebrates. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
Even the coaches prepared for the game in a remarkably
relaxed way. Ronald Koeman granted Steven Pienaar
permission to go on vacation to South-Africa a week
earlier and fielded goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg
instead of Bogdan Lobont, as Holland boss Dick Advocaat
announced that he will choose for either Stekelenburg
or Sander Westerveld (Real Sociedad) as Oranje's third
goalkeeper for Euro 2004. Koeman gave Stekelenburg a shot, so
that he could show what he's capable of. Willem
II coach André Wetzel, meanwhile, allowed his players to
come up with a tactical plan for the game against Ajax, in
which the Tricolores from Tilburg had nothing to win
or lose.
Zdenek Grygera returned to the Ajax line-up, while
Daniël de Ridder replaced Pienaar on the right wing. Both
teams seemed uninpsired in the first half hour, in which Ajax
had more possession and, let's say, chances to create chances.
The most remarkable moment was a disallowed header goal by
Johnny Heitinga.
No goals were scored in the first 35 minutes and it surely
did not seem like no less than seven goals were going to
be netted in the remaining 55. The first one was for the
guests. The winger who had a tremendous game
(Daniël de Ridder) provided the winger who had
a very poor game (Tom Soetaers) with a perfect little
cross, which the former Roda man only had to graze with
his forehead: 0-1 (37'). It seemed like 0-1 was going to be the
half-time score, but referee Oskam placed the ball on the
penalty spot as Zdenek Grygera pulled Romano Denneboom's shirt.
Tom Caluwé attempted to convert 'Panenka style' (with a
deft little chip), but saw Stekelenburg save. Much to
Caluwé's relief the rebound was a piece of cake: 1-1
(45').
In the second half Koeman brought Anthony Obodai for an
uninspired Rafaël van der Vaart. The Ghanese was Ajax's
Man Of The Match as a right fullback last week and played even
better as an offensive midfielder. He required only eight
minutes to put Ajax back in the lead on - once again - a fine
cross by De Ridder from the right flank (53'). It was the first
ever Ajax-1 goal for the Ghanese, who could have scored four
times in the second half. The fact that he missed a couple of
18-carat scoring chances was the only thing he did wrong.
Nevertheless, Willem II vs Ajax was the game of Anthony
Obodai. Less than 90 seconds after Willem II's Belgian
substitute, Bart Van den Eede, had headed home for the
equalizer (71'), Obodai struck again, penetrating the Tilburg
defense through the middle and calmly pushing the ball under
goalkeeper De Vlieger and into the net: 2-3 (73').
"Anthony is most definitely a player for the future," said
Ronald Koeman after the game. "He's got enormous 'drive' that
our other midfielders do not have. He can play in defense, and
he can battle in midfield, but he also has the dynamics to go
forward and score a goal. He has the potential
to become a very important player for Ajax next
season."
In an almost nonchalant way Ajax showed some highly
attractive and effective football in the second half. Thanks to
Obodai's pace and boldness, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was no longer
isolated. The Swede missed an open scoring chance on the hour,
but was succesful in the 82nd minute as he picked up the ball
from a free-kick and beat De Vlieger with a well-aimed, low
shot: 2-4. And that was not all. One of Ajax's best players on
the day, Daniël de Ridder, also got to score his first
ever goal for the first team. And what a beautiful one it was:
an artistic, high chip over De Vlieger, which landed into the
far side netting: 2-5 (90').
Daniël de Ridder celebrates
his first goal for Ajax 1. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
The final score of 2-5 was a bit flattering and a typical
'end-of-season-result,' as the situation (and the great
weather) allowed both teams to play open, attractive football.
On the other hand: it isn't that unusual for Ajax to score
easily against the self-proclaimed 'Ajax of the South.' The
Amsterdammers scored an impressive sixteen goals in the last
four visits to Tilburg. That is now 21 goals in the last five
visits. It makes 'Willem II away' one of the statistically
easiest Eredivisie road games for Ajax.
In spite of the fact that one more game is on the agenda for
Ajax (a friendly against the 'AT5 United' team of the FC
Godenzonen TV program) the season is effectively over for
Ajax. The members of the squad who will go to Portugal in June
(Van der Vaart, Heitinga, Sneijder, De Jong, Ibrahimovic,
Galásek, Grygera, Lobont), or will otherwise be playing
with their national teams, will not play that fixture. Their
brief summer vacation started immediately after Willem II
vs Ajax. (MP)
Source: Ajax.nl, de Volkskrant, VI.nl, Algemeen
Dagblad
GOALS
- 37' 0-1 Tom Soetaers
- 45' 1-1 Tom Caluwé
- 53' 1-2 Anthony Obodai
- 71' 2-2 Bart Van den Eede
- 73' 2-3 Anthony Obodai
- 83' 2-4 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
- 90' 2-5 Daniël de Ridder
Referee: Oskam
Yellow cards: Galásek (Ajax)
Attendance: 14,550
Ajax line-up: Stekelenburg; Grygera, De
Jong, Heitinga, Maxwell; Galásek, Van der Vaart (46.
Obodai), Sneijder (77. Yakubu); De Ridder, Ibrahimovic,
Soetaers (62. Sikora).
Willem II line-up: De Vlieger; Wau (66.
Shoukov), Van Nieuwstadt, Jaliens, Van Mosselveld; Victoria,
Mathijssen, Caluwé; Denneboom (73. Denissen), Quinn (66.
Van den Eede), Hadouir.
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