Defensive errors cost Ajax dearly in Vigo: 3-2
3 (2) - 2
(0)
Champions League, Group Stage
Balaídos Stadium, Vigo,
Spain
Tuesday, 04 November, 2003
Anything is still possible in Group H, one of
the more exciting groups in this year's Champions League. The
situation could have been very different, if the Ajax defense
had not had one of its weakest nights of the season in Vigo's
Balaidos Stadium, where hosts Celta left the pitch with three
deserved points: 3-2.
It was
a disappointing night for the Amsterdammers, for several
reasons. For starters, Ajax seems to have wasted their best
opportunity to notch a positive result away from home, given
Celta's poor form in the Spanish Primera Division and their
list of injured and suspended players, including Giovanella and
Brazilian star Edu. This was the reason Ronald Koeman brazenly
played an attacking 4-3-3 formation, including young
Nicolae Mitea on the left flank. Secondly, Ajax did not only
lose the three points, but also two players for the
crucial home game against AC Milan, due to, respectively,
accumulated yellow cards (Van der Vaart) and a double yellow on
the night (Grygera). A better result was certainly
possible. Ajax managed to score twice in a European away game,
which is not bad at all. This game was lost because of several
major defensive errors.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic laments a lost
opportunity during 3-2 defeat at Celta de Vigo. [Photo:
ANP]
Celta's win in front of 21,000 fans was most definitely a
well-deserved one. The Spaniards dominated for more than an
hour in total and brought the remarkably shaky Ajax defense
into major trouble with almost every determined attack.
Nevertheless, despite Celta's dominance in the opening
moments, Ajax actually began well, controlling the game
and seemingly ready to take over when French referee Eric
Veissière rewarded a Savo Milosevic dive with a penalty.
TV footage seemed to confirm that Abubakari Yakubu pulled his
leg back and did not even make contact with the Celta striker.
Rafaël van der Vaart was too energetic in his
protestations to the referee, and was shown a yellow card that
will rule him out for the home fixture against AC Milan on 26
November. Bogdan Lobont reacted well to Peter Luccin's penalty,
but had no chance to save: 1-0 (25').
It must be said that Ajax had only one real chance in the
first half, when Zlatan Ibrahimovic saw his left-footed shot go
just wide. Otherwise, Luccin's opening goal abruptly ended what
had been a short phase of good football for Ajax. The
Amsterdammers lost their heads after the dubious penalty,
started passing inaccurately and making mistakes in defense.
Zdenek Grygera, for example, had a dreadful night against the
superb Juanfran. The Czech was totally out of position when
Sylvinho received the ball on the left flank and sent a perfect
cross for Milosevic to slam his forehead against. Yakubu was
out of position, while Julien Escudé allowed the tall
striker to come in front of him far too easily: 2-0 (39').
Ajax's start of the second half was also worryingly poor.
The Ajax defense was once again asleep as a Milosevic header
bounced back from the post, far out Lobont's reach. An Ajax
goal seemed lightyears away at this point, but nevertheless it
was scored out of nowhere. Minutes after Mitea had provided Van
der Vaart with a fine opportunity (the captain failed to tap
home from close range), Maxwell released a fine cross to Wesley
Sonck, who jumped well and diagonally headed home: 2-1
(53').
Nigel de Jong heads the ball away
from Celta players. [Photo: Louis van der
Vuurst/Ajax.nl]
The new-born hopes visibly inspired the team and ushered in
Ajax's best phase in the game. Abubakari Yakubu came closest to
equalizing. His furious header hit the cross-bar via Pinto's
fingertips. It seemed like Ajax was back into the game, but
just like in the first half a short phase of Ajax pressure was
painfully terminated by a goal on the 'wrong end' of the pitch.
Maxwell was nowhere to be found, leaving Yakubu alone to
confront two men. Vagner was the one to take him on, winning a
brief duel and pushing the ball past Lobont in sovereign style:
3-1 (63').
Celta's third goal was the death-blow for Ajax. The
Amsterdammers were outplayed during the remaining 30 minutes.
Nevertheless, it was important for the team to keep hunting for
a second goal, as a defeat by only one goal was enough for Ajax
to stay ahead of Celta on head-to-head result, if both teams
end with the same number of points. Ajax's important goal -
once again - came out of nowhere and was scored by Rafaël
van der Vaart, who nicely turned past his defender and fired
home from some sixteen yards: 3-2.
Shortly thereafter, there was bad news from Bruges, where AC
Milan's Kaka had just scored a late winner for the Italians.
Ajax would have remained tops in case of a 0-0 draw in Bruges.
More bad news: Zdenek Grygera received his second yellow card
in the dying seconds of the game, after what was surely
his weakest ever performance for Ajax. He will be
automatically suspended for one game.
Several minutes later the calculating could commence. Ajax
is still second, one point behind AC Milan, and can therefore
call its position hopeful. Koeman stated this week that nine
points would be sufficient to go through in this round. This is
not completely true. If Ajax loses to Milan but beats Brugge,
and if Celta wins their last two games, Ajax will end up third
with nine points behind Celta (11 points) and Milan (10). And if Ajax beats Milan, Milan beats
Celta and Brugge wins both games, Ajax will end up third with
nine points behind Milan and Brugge (both 10 points). However,
if Ajax beats Milan and Brugge doesn't beat Celta, Ajax
will have already qualified one match before the end. And to
carry on to the extreme... Ajax could even go through with
eight points - if all teams draw their next two games.
While AC Milan's late goal Ajax cost Ajax its top slot in
Group H, the Amsterdammers will now try to hold on
to its other precious leading position: in the Eredivisie,
starting on Sunday in The Hague. (MP)
GOALS
- 25' 1-0 Peter Luccin (penalty)
- 39' 2-0 Savo Milosevic
- 53' 2-1 Wesley Sonck
- 63' 3-1 Rogerio Vagner
- 82' 3-2 Rafaël van der Vaart
Referee: Veissière (France)
Yellow cards: Luccin, Angel (Celta de Vigo),
Van der Vaart, Ibrahimovic, Galásek, Grygera (Ajax)
Red card: Grygera (Ajax, double yellow,
90')
Attendance: 21,000
Ajax line-up: Lobont; Grygera, Yakubu (65.
Heitinga), Escudé, Maxwell; De Jong, Galásek (79.
Wamberto), Van der Vaart; Sonck, Ibrahimovic (70. Litmanen),
Mitea.
Celta de Vigo line-up: Pinto; Angel, Sergio,
Caceres, Sylvinho; Luccin, Vagner (86. Contreras), Jesuli (82.
Lopez), Mostovoi (90. Oubina), Juanfran; Milosevic.
Other Group H result:
Club Brugge - AC Milan 0-1 (UEFA.com
match report)
Group H standings after Matchday
4
- AC Milan: 4-7 (2-1)
- Ajax: 4-6 (5-4)
- Celta de Vigo: 4-5 (4-4)
- Club Brugge: 4-4 (2-4)
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