Ajax and PSV settle for 0-0 draw at ArenA
0 (0) - 0
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Eredivisie
Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam
Saturday, 11 March, 2006
When Ajax and PSV kicked off for their 100th encounter
in the history of the Eredivisie, two things could be expected
based on historic facts: (1) it is almost always
an entertaining and 'open' game, (2) there are always
goals, in many cases two or more. 90 minutes later the
conclusion was that Ajax vs PSV of 11 March 2006 had lived up
to the first expectation, but not to the second: it
was an enjoyable fix of football, but - for the first time
since 04 September 1960 - the final score was a
goalless draw.
Another unusual thing about the match was the fact that,
unlike some recent confrontations between Holland's most
succesful clubs, it was not crucial in any way.
PSV are almost certainly on their way to another Dutch
championship. Before the game they were seven points clear of
runners-up Feyenoord and twenty of Ajax, who were never a
serious competitor for the title this season. As for Ajax: the
Amsterdammers returned to winning ways in recent weeks, a new
sense of optimism has emerged at the Amsterdam ArenA and a
slot in the top five (good for play-off participation) seems
within reach. Defeat would not have been a disaster for either
team. Ajax vs PSV was not a match of 'life and
death'.
Former Ajacied Jason Culina
chases Urby Emanuelson. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
Coaches Guus Hiddink and Danny Blind could not prepare for
the fixture the way they'd prefer. For PSV, the match came only
three days after their dismal visit to Lyon, where
they were painfully hammered in the Champions
League (4-0). Ajax had no midweek game, but a
frighteningly long list of absentees to worry
about. The returns of John Heitinga, Wesley Sneijder,
Zdenek Grygera, Tomás Galásek, Nicolae Mitea
and Edgar Manucharyan are not in sight yet, whereas
Nourdin Boukhari was suspended due to accumulated
yellow cards.
Injury-battered or not, it was clear from the outset that
Ajax were going to take the initiative, as you'd expect in
a home game at the atmospheric ArenA, where the teams were
welcomed by a beautiful 'tifo choreography' from the fans.
From kick-off PSV did what they do best: leaning
back, knowing that their defense is
rock-solid, opportunistically waiting for the chance
to counter-attack. Ajax started poorly. Their offensive
intentions were obvious, but tactically they seemed to be
in two minds and their passing was sloppy, so that (we've
seen it a few times before...) PSV looked more mature,
patient and solid in the first half.
Ajax got the first major chance of the game, as a
Maduro thru-ball put Steven Pienaar
face-to-face with goalkeeper Gomes in the 13th minute. The
PSV goalie saved adequately. The
best chance in the first half, however, was
for the visitors, only three minutes later. Hatem Trabelsi's
only major error of the game gave Timmy Simons a free passage.
The ArenA crowd was already counting the goal,
but saw Simons' diagonal strike bounce back from the
inside of the post.
The duels between Trabelsi and
Koné were an
exciting 'Battle of the Africans'. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
The 'battle of the Africans' between Hatem
Trabelsi (Tunisia) and Arouna Koné (Ivory Coast) was one
of the most fascinating aspects of the encounter. The winner,
undisputedly, was Trabelsi. Koné should in fact
have been sent off: he picked up a yellow card for a handball
in the 57th minute and brutally mowed Trabelsi down not
long thereafter. It seemed like referee Haverkort was reaching
for his breast pocket, but changed his mind,
a decision smacking of cowardice.
It was in this phase (the first 25 minutes of the second
half) that Ajax played increasingly well, put PSV under
tremendous pressure and created the chances that
could (and perhaps should) have won them the game. The two
best ones were for Markus Rosenberg, who once again
demonstrated his excellent form and was voted 'Man of the
Match', but was a bit unfortunate in front of goal. The
Swede sneaked trough the lines in the 50th and 60th
minutes, on two deft thru-passes that gave
him face-to-face encounters with Heurelho Gomes. On both
occasions the PSV goalkeeper saved magnificently. Thomas
Vermaelen, who had a good performance as well, had an unmarked
header opportunity, but nodded just wide of the top corner.
PSV almost entirely focused on defending in the second half,
but had one major scoring chance, as Jefferson Farfán
suddenly had an unmarked shooting opportunity in the 72nd
minute. The striker fired too wildly, yards over the cross-bar.
In the latter 15 minutes of the game the ArenA crowd started
to sense that a 0-0 was ahead, a result the Eindhoven
visitors were more pleased with than the red and white
hosts.
Thomas Vermaelen is chased by
Jefferson Farfán. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
"Ajax were better, especially in the second half," admitted
PSV boss Guus Hiddink. "I can live with this result. We've done
good business here." Added Danny Blind: "The boys deserve a
compliment for creating so many chances against PSV. But
you have to convert them, too. That's a different story,
and a quality in itself. The first half was for PSV, but
in the second half Ajax were better than PSV were in the first.
I counted four or five big chances. We should
have converted at least one of them."
PSV are on their way to the Eredivisie championship,
and they will almost certainly finish the job in sovereign
style. They were the by far best team in The
Netherlands this season. The near future, however, may not be
as bright. The Russian F.A. are trying to seduce Guus
Hiddink, key players such as Alex and Farfán are
expected to leave Eindhoven and (as a result of these
facts) captain Phillip Cocu is not sure
whether or not he should renew his
contract. PSV's biggest problem, however, is their
financial position. The club are losing money every
season, face a large deficit and will have very limited
options on the transfer market this summer.
The management can not guarantee anything for next
season and unrest in the squad is looming.
Ajax may be twenty points behind PSV this season, but are
playing with fresh élan, in spite of their long
list of injuries. Ajax do have the money to improve
the squad. The team's current form, the arrival of
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, the purchases of Jaap Stam and
Kenneth Perez and the ambition of general director Martin van
Geel have caused a wave of optimism at the Amsterdam
ArenA. Who knows, with that optimism and a little bit of luck,
the future might start on Tuesday evening at the San Siro in
Milan... Never say never. Ajax have nothing to
lose. (MP)
NO GOALS
Referee: Haverkort
Yellow cards: Juanfran
(Ajax), Koné, Alex (PSV)
Attendance: 48,741
Ajax line-up: Stekelenburg; Trabelsi,
Maduro, Vermaelen, Juanfran; Pienaar (82. Sarpong),
Lindenbergh, Emanuelson; Rosales, Huntelaar, Rosenberg (75.
Babel).
PSV line-up: Gomes; Lamey, Addo,
Alex, Ball; Culina, Simons, Cocu; Farfán, Vennegoor of
Hesselink, Koné.
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