Ajax wins Amsterdam Tournament after spectacular 3-0 win over Inter
3 (0) - 0 (0)
Pre-Season Friendly: Amsterdam Tournament
Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam
Sunday, 03 August, 2003
Ajax has won the friendly but prestigious Amsterdam
Tournament for the third time in a row. In a spectacular and
thoroughly enjoyable finale, Internazionale was outplayed by
the Amsterdammers throughout the game. Ajax's goals were all
scored in the second half, by Steven Pienaar, Rafaël van
der Vaart and Wamberto. The latter last-minute strike brought
Ajax the tournament victory.
Rafael van der Vaart and Wamberto
celebrate after the latter's
tournament-winning goal. [Photo: Louis van de
Vuurst/Ajax.nl]
Of course: Ajax's two games at the Amsterdam Tournament were
just friendlies, although you would almost have forgotten that
in the roaring, almost sold-out ArenA. However, it is slowly
becoming an unusually prestigious friendly tournament,
televised in 185 countries. For Ajax, moreover, it is the
traditional presentation to the home crowd. In its only three
games against professional (and on all three occasions English)
opposition, Ajax was the far superior side in almost every
respect - except in scoring. Therefore, in spite of the fact
that coach Ronald Koeman is extremely satisifed with the way
the pre-season campaign passed off, Ajax needed a good win.
And what a good win it was. The game against Internazionale
only brought positive conclusions: the new heart of the Ajax
defense (Escudé and Grygera) seems to be dynamic and
solid, last season has visibly made players such as Jelle Van
Damme and Maxwell better, Rafaël van der Vaart is in
excellent form already and Wesley Sonck plays better by
the game so that his first goal seems to be a matter of time.
Plus, most importantly: Ajax plays fresh, sassy football, with
enthusiasm and determination. It was, quite simply, a joy to
watch on this warm August night.
The difference with Friday's match against Liverpool was
clear from the start. Ajax, playing in a 4-4-2 formation with
Sonck and Van der Vaart upfront, played in higher gear and was
considerably more dangerous. Within three minutes time
Rafaël van der Vaart had an open scoring chance (Jelle Van
Damme's superb pass deserves a mention) and the young Ajax
captain later saw his stylish free-kick getting punched out of
the upper ninety by goalkeeper Toldo. The best chance in the
first half was for Steven Pienaar, who had a free passage to
Toldo and seemed to do everything right, but the Inter goalie
managed to save his attempt with one hand.
Wesley Sneijder in action agains
Internazionale.
[Photo: Louis van de Vuurst/Ajax.nl]
The only thing missing, basically, were goals. Ajax knew
that no less than three of 'em were required to win the
tournament with its remarkable points system (a point for each
goal scored on top of the points for a draw or a win). The
first Ajax goal of the season in the Amsterdam ArenA was there
only four minutes after the break - and it was an eightteen
carat one: a nice 'one-two' combination put Steven Pienaar
face-to-face with Toldo. The South-African is usually not
Ajax's most feared 'hitman', but he pulled the trigger
mercilessly this time, furiously firing high into the nets.
In no-time the tournament victory was within reach, as the
Italians - who were flawless in defense in last season's
Champions League games against Ajax - made one slip-up after
the other in the back. The Ajacied to take advantage of this
was Jari Litmanen, brought on after half time. The Finn picked
up numerous 'lost balls' in midfield and distributed accurate,
intelligent thru-passes like in his best days. His little flick
which sent Van der Vaart on his way int he 54th minute was no
less than brilliant, although Van der Vaart needed a defensive
black-out to steal the ball from two Inter defenders and fire
home: 2-0.
Inter had no answer to Ajax's play. The only moment of
Italian brilliance was a curving 'banana shot' from an unlikely
angle by Recoba in the 66th minute. Maarten Stekelenburg was
nailed to the ground as the ball bounced on the cross-bar. It
was all Inter had to offer. The feared and notorious Hernan
Crespo, who killed Ajax almost on his own in last season's
Champions League games, played no part of significance this
time. Neither did 'good old' Andy van der Meyde. The former
Ajacied tricked Maxwell once with a formidable
'pirouette' (the use of the emergency brake subsequently
cost Maxwell a booking) and saw a fine left-footed shot go
inches over the cross-bar. For the rest of the time he had one
of the apathetic days he's had so many of in the ArenA.
As the minutes ticked away a bizarre conclusion to the
tournament seemed to be in the making: in case of a 2-0 win for
Ajax both the hosts and Inter were going to finish with six
points. Ajax would have had four 'normal' points (a win and a
draw) and Inter only three (a win and a defeat). Ajax would
also have had a better goal-difference (2-0 versus Inter's 3-2)
as well as a better head-to-head result (2-0 win). In spite of
all that, Inter would have won the tournament, as the number of
goals scored would have been decisive.
It would have been a slightly embarrassing apotheosis for
the tournament's organization, but - just like last season
against Barcelona - the 'tourney winner' was scored in the
dying seconds, as Rafaël van der Vaart suddenly had a free
passage to Toldo and saw that Wamberto was with him on his
left hand side. Van der Vaart's pass was not perfect and the
finish not easy, but the short Brazilian did not fail and
slotted home. Good for Wamberto, who wants to take 'revenge' on
his injuries and played as if there was no tomorrow.
The Amsterdam Tournament has its own interpretation of
maths, which was subtly underscored by the fact that
Rafaël van der Vaart was chosen as 'Man of the Match' in
both Ajax games, but that the trophy for 'Man of the
Tournament' (surprisingly) went to Maxwell. Does it all
matter? Ah, well, not really. But it's always nice to see a
succesful pre-season campaign end with cheering, a fine win and
the lifting of a nice piece of silverware than with a
disappointing result. One more pre-season fixture is on the
agenda, at home against First Division side FC Haarlem,
although that game must be regarded as a 'showcase' during
Wednesday's Open Day around the ArenA. After that the
2003-2004 season will be off to a kickstart with - how bizarre
- two of the most important games of the whole year: the
Champions League qualifiers against (this is a safe bet) Grazer
AK from Austria. (MP)
GOALS
- 49' 1-0 Steven Pienaar
- 54' 2-0 Rafaël van der Vaart
- 90' 3-0 Wamberto
Referee: Haverkort
Yellow cards: Maxwell (Ajax), Zanetti, Van
der Meyde (Internazionale)
Attendance: 51,000
Ajax line-up: Stekelenburg; Trabelsi,
Grygera, Escudé, Van Damme (46. Litmanen);
Galásek (72. Yakubu), Sneijder (72. Obodai), Pienaar,
Maxwell; Sonck (63. Wamberto), Van der Vaart.
Internazionale line-up: Toldo; Adani,
Gamarra (77. Karagounis), Pasquale, Zanetti; Van der Meyde,
Emre (46. Almeyda), Lamouchi (77. Materazzi), Luciano; Crespo
(55. Recoba), Martins.
- Other result on Day 2: Galatasaray - Liverpool 2-1
Table after Day 2:
- Ajax: 7 points - TOURNAMENT WINNER
- Internazionale: 6 points
- Galatasaray: 5 points
- Liverpool FC: 2 points
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