Poor result at Nottingham Forest in Grygera's debut

Ajax's first pre-season game against a professional opponent has not brought the Amsterdammers the desired result. An unlucky last minute own goal by Wesley Sonck was the equalizer for Nottingham Forest, winner of two European Champions Cups but now playing in England's Division One. 2-2 was a fair result in an attractive friendly game, in which Ajax was the technically and tactically superior side, but almost totally failed to create scoring chances.

Maxwell against Nottingham Forest. [Photo: Louis van de Vuurst/Ajax.nl]

Highlights of the game, from an Ajax point of view, were the fine second half début of newcomer Zdenek Grygera and the superb performance by Maxwell. And of course the Ajax goals. The first one was in the netting in the wink of an eye. Hardly two minutes were played as Ajax's new number ten, Rafaël van der Vaart, received the ball just outside of the penalty box and stylishly curled it into the top corner behind goalkeeper Darren Ward: 0-1. A big score seemed to be possible for a while, but the small group of an estimated 100 travelling Ajax fans had to wait for the second goal until the second half. In his sixth minute of Ajax action, Grygera concluded an impressive run across-field with a fine, low cross for Steven Pienaar to convert with a low shot: 0-2.

Before that the Amsterdammers had shown some fluent and dynamic football in midfield, but it also became clear that newcomer Wesley Sonck has trouble adjusting to his new team's tactics. The Belgian never came into scoring position, in the absence of accurate passes. Sonck and the players supposed to provide him with passes apparently need more time to get used to each other.

Nottingham Forest's defense, led by former England veteran Des Walker, deserves a compliment for its fine, but never dirty defending. The best part of the Ajax team also was the defense: Maxwell was no less than superb at left back, Grygera seemed to feel perfectly at home at right back and the way Petri Pasanen and Julien Escudé keep the door locked was very promising indeed. The French newcomer is not a 'one man army' like Cristian Chivu, but impressed with his intelligent, calm defending.

The most enjoyable aspect of the game was the battle in midfield. The Ajacieden in midfield (Van der Vaart, Sneijder, Pienaar) were often a joy to watch, but they never totally controlled the game. Forest had to work harder for it, obviously, but the battle in midfield was remarkably balanced.

In spite of the fact that the English did not create many chances themselves, they did deserve a goal - and they got it as midfielder Andy Reid gave it a try from just outside the penalty box. His spinning shot was low and tricky, but should definitely have been saved by Bogdan Lobont, who seemed briefly paralyzed as he watched the ball hit the nets, straight through the middle of his goal.

A very good result against Ajax was suddenly well possible as the crowd of 20,545 at the atmospheric, well filled City Ground yelled their players forward. In spite of Forest's sudden fury, Ajax would have made it to the finish line rather easily except for the bad fortune of Wesley Sonck, whose bad day also turned unlucky in the last minute when he nodded a Forest corner into his own goal at the near post. A lucky equalizer for the English, but the draw could hardly be called undeserved, as Ajax allowed Forest to take the initiative during large stretches of time.

Coach Ronald Koeman was satisfied with almost everything, except the result. "That Sonck own goal was just bad luck. I thought it was a good game. Both sides had a good spirit and played with young, ambitious players. Given the fact that this only the third week of our preparation campaign I am satisfied with the way we played. Not with the result, of course. When you're 2-0 up you expect to win."

For Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, it will be important to book a better result against Ajax than its regional rivals, Derby County. The latter is Ajax's second and last opponent of the "U.K. tour" on Friday. (MP)

GOALS

• 02' 0-1 Rafaël van der Vaart
• 51' 0-2 Steven Pienaar
• 78' 1-2 Andy Reid
• 90' 2-2 Wesley Sonck (own goal)

Referee: Rennie
Yellow card: Maxwell (Ajax), Louis-Jean (Nottingham Forest)
Attendance: 20,545

Ajax line-up: Lobont; Trabelsi (46. Grygera), Pasanen, Escudé, Maxwell; Obodai, Van der Vaart, Sneijder (62. Galásek); Pienaar (62. Wamberto), Sonck, Boukhari (62. Mitea).

Nottingham Forest line-up: Ward; Oyen, Walker (78. Gunnarsson), Thompson, Louis-Jean, Reid (90. Cash), Jess, Bopp, Jones (78. Morgan), Johnson (87. Westcarr), Harewood.

Related Links:

• SoccerPages Discussion: Pre-Season and Friendly Games
• Ajax.nl: Match report in Dutch