First win for Danny Blind: Ajax - Willem II 2-0

Ajax boss Danny Blind was visibly relieved as he stepped into the press room of the Amsterdam ArenA after the game. The Eredivisie home fixture against Willem II was his third on the Ajax bench, but so far he had not clinched a single point with his team. Having lost to PSV and Heerenveen, and with AZ and Feyenoord coming up, Ajax needed a win. On moments like that there's always Willem II...: 2-0.

The Tricolores from Tilburg always seem to have a decent team and they are normally in the centre group of the Eredivisie - or higher. Yet, Willem II away is statistically one of the easiest road games of the season for Ajax (21 goals in the last five visits and no points lost since April 1999) - and Willem II has never won in Amsterdam. Willem II kindly offering a struggling, shaky Ajax team the opportunity to pick themselves up. It's almost become a tradition. Earlier this season, for example: Ajax had just lost to Heerenveen, PSV and Maccabi Tel Aviv, but then visited Willem II, who didn't put the slightest obstacle in Ajax's way. Tonight history repeated itself at the ArenA, where (once again after defeats to PSV and Heerenveen) Willem II did not create a single scoring chance and rolled over... almost on cue.   

 
'Man of the Match' Hedwiges Maduro. [Photo: Ajax.nl]

It must be said: coach Robert Maaskant had to field an inexperienced defense due to the absence of experienced players such as Jos van Nieuwstadt and former Ajacied Michel Kreek. But then again: after their only dangerous moment (9th minute, as Hatem Trabelsi defended erratically and caused a brief scrimmage in the Ajax goal-mouth) they failed to show any fighting spirit or genuine belief in a result. Which allowed Ajax to struggle to their feet, score twice and actually look good during certain phases of the first half in particular.

There were some surprises in Ajax's line-up as well: the return of Zdenek Grygera (replacing a suspended Julien Escudé) was expected, but it was rather surprising that Blind opted for a midfield of Pienaar (his 100th game for Ajax!), Maduro and Sneijder, keeping a match-fit Rafaël van der Vaart benched. Sitting next to him was (surprise #2) Maxwell, who had many poor games this season, but was benched for a different reason: he showed up late on match day and lost his spot to Nigel de Jong. Surprise #3: the return of Nicolae Mitea to the starting line-up.

Saying that Ajax played well would be giving the Amsterdammers far too much credit (their passing was still way too sloppy), but at least there was real dominance and several fast attacks in the opening phase. Mauro Rosales in particular took revenge for his poor performances of recent weeks. The Argentinian rushed past his defender many times, was mowed just outside the penalty area by Tom Caluwé (3') and - in the 20th minute - delivered a deft cross to an unmarked Nicolae Mitea, who (believe it or not) headed home for Ajax's opening goal: 1-0.

It's been a long time, but Ajax vs Willem II was (finally) a game in which Ajax created many chances to score. The match should already have been decided at half-time (Pienaar had a free passage in the 18th minute and Hedwiges Maduro a chance from close range in the 27th, but he fired into the side-netting), or at least on the hour. Mauro Rosales, Hedwiges Maduro and Hatem Trabelsi all came face-to-face with goalkeeper Oscar Moens in the opening minutes of the second half. They all failed.

 
Back in the starting eleven and scoring: Nicolea Mitea. [Photo: Ajax.nl]

Ajax's inability in front of goal was rather worrying, admitted Danny Blind after the game: "We forgot to score the second goal - and this team needs a second goal. This team can not calmly hold on to a one goal lead."

Indeed, Ajax's passing got sloppier in the second half and Blind had to change his forward line around when Mauro Rosales had to be stretchered off due to an ankle injury that will keep him sidelined for up to four weeks. Nourdin Boukhari replaced him as Nicolae Mitea moved to the right, an unusual position for the Romanian. There were only a few more entertaining moments after that: a long, spectacular solo run by Nigel de Jong over the left flank, a Nourdin Boukhari screamer in the 80th minute (punched over the cross-bar by Moens) and - finally - Ajax's decisive second goal, a simple nod by Ryan Babel on a Wesley Sneijder free-kick (90'). Babel is now Ajax's topscorer in the Eredivisie with six goals, a statistic that sums up the whole season.

Danny Blind had some special praise for young Hedwiges Maduro, who was also voted 'Man of the Match' by the ArenA crowd. The youngster had a splendid game in midfield, right in front of Heitinga and Grygera, where he played calmly, dominantly and almost flawlessly. "It's my favourite position and I thought it went well, indeed," Maduro admitted. "We also played much better as a team, especially our position play. This was a step forward and we must elaborate on this."

Added Ryan Babel: "We finally had a good week." Just in time, we might add, with AZ at home, Feyenoord away and another confrontation with Willem II (in the semi-finals of the Amstel Cup) coming up next. These three games are Ajax's very last chance to make something out of a thoroughly disappointing season. (MP)

'Give Ajax its face back!'
Prior to kick-off the crowd at the Amsterdam ArenA got to enjoy a spectacular fan action before kick-off, organized by the supporters behind the campaign for the return of the old Ajax club crest (also visit their website: www.ajaxlogo.nl). The East stand was covered by a large banner of the new Ajax logo, which was then 'pushed away' by an even bigger banner with the 'classic' logo on it. Photos of the choreography can, as usual, be found on the fantastic Ajax Foto Side, as well as on F-Side.nl. Comments? Post them here! (MP)

GOALS

• 20'  1-0  Nicolae Mitea
• 90'  2-0  Ryan Babel 

Referee: Blom
Yellow cards: Van Mosselveld, Ceesay (Willem II)
Attendance: 45,219

Ajax line-up: Vonk; Trabelsi, Heitinga, Grygera, De Jong; Pienaar (74. Maxwell), Maduro, Sneijder; Rosales (74. Boukhari), Babel, Mitea.

Willem II line-up: Moens; Van der Struijk, Victoria (57. Wau), Smit (82. Redan), Van Mosselveld; Delanoy, Caluwé, Agustien; Ceesay (77. Denissen), Reuser, Bobson.

Related Links:

• Discussion: 07 Apr 2005: Ajax - Willem II
• Ajax.nl: Match report in Dutch and English (+ photo report)