Ajax and AZ battle to entertaining 2-2 draw
2 (1) - 2
(0)
Eredivisie
Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam
Sunday, 10 December, 2006
Ajax and AZ both came into today's game knowing that no less
than three points would keep them in touch with league leaders
PSV, who grabbed another victory at Groningen on Saturday. In
the end, neither team could quite manage it: 2-2. It was a good
and entertaining game of football, in which John Heitinga
scored the only first-half goal. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar equalized
after goals from former Ajacied Shota Arveladze and David
Mendes da Silva had given the visitors a second-half lead.
Ajax were going to have to do without Wesley Sneijder and
Kenneth Perez (suspended). Gabri, on the other hand, returned
from a one-game suspension, whereas Ryan Babel played from the
start for the first time since his return from injury. The fans
in the ArenA must have had real nerves at the outset, not
knowing which Ajax side would turn up: the swaggering team that
hit for six last week against Willem II or the 'crisis' Ajax
that were so unmanned by Espanyol just a week prior.
The answer would be... neither, exactly. Still, the Ajax
team that took the field against fellow title chasers AZ
were confident, clearly still feeling good from
last week's goal-fest. Led by Emanuelson and an obviously
re-invigorated Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Ajax displayed quick
passing and effective wing-play, especially from Ryan Babel,
whose return can only mean good things for a team that had
been bereft of attacking ideas until only a week ago.
After a calm, patient start for both clubs, Ajax began to
apply the pressure. Not exactly swaggering - AZ are too good
a team to allow that - but confident and fairly decisive.
Ajax were creating real scoring chances. Thirteen minutes in,
Emanuelson partnered up with Huntelaar, in a deft little move
where each player passed to the other with a mis-directed
side-foot pass, setting Emanuelson free to threaten
Waterreus's goal from the left side. The young midfielder
strafed his shot harmlessly across the face of goal, but Ajax
had served notice. They were a dangerous side.
Johnny Heitinga celebrates the
opening goal as new AZ signee Waterreus looks on. [Photo:
Ajax.nl]
The inevitable goal came in the 35th minute. After an
Emanuelson free kick was pushed across the penalty spot by
Huntelaar, Johnny Heitinga was there to slam the ball into
the goal, off of Waterreus's arm. It was nothing less than Ajax
deserved: 1-0.
AZ would have a few tiny chances, but the first half
definitely belonged to Ajax. They could have had more...
The second half was a different story, especially in the
first 15 minutes. AZ must have gotten a good talking-to by head
coach Louis van Gaal, who also brought on two players who would
make the difference in the second half: winger Julian Jenner
and midfielder Simon Cziommer. The Alkmaar side came
out inspired and Ajax were as pinned back in the opening
phase as AZ had been for most of the first half. Although both
teams were taking more risks, opening up the field, it was the
Alkmaar side who were enjoying the best chances.
Emanuelson battles in midfield
with former Ajax player Mendes da Silva. [Photo:
Ajax.nl]
So it was not surprising when the visitors equalized,
although the prelude to the goal was something of a
controversy. Emanuelson was dispossessed in midfield
by fairly violent play from Steinsson, who got the
ball - yes - but also crumpled the Ajax midfielder's
legs with a very heavy two-footed tackle. It seemed a sure
foul, but referee Eric Braamhaar didn't think so. In the
blinding-fast attack that ensued, Julian Jenner lashed a deadly
low cross into the penalty area, perfectly placed beyond
Stekelenburg's reach. Shota Arveladze displayed all his cunning
by side-stepping away from Grygera to create just enough space
to get a foot on the ball and smack it into the Ajax net: 1-1
(51').
After the goal, Ajax were reeling. AZ kept the pressure up,
and just eight minutes later, they took the lead. After
Stekelenburg failed to hold onto a blistered shot by Jenner,
David Mendes da Silva was there to slot home the rebound. Piece
of cake for the former Sparta man, who was in fact a (Young)
Ajacied in the 2002-2003 season: 2-1.
Game, set and match? Not quite. Ajax found their
first-half form for just a few minutes, and it was enough to
give their fans hope. Maybe there were still points to be had
from this game. First, Heitinga almost scored his second,
heading a free kick just over the bar. Then, Henk ten Cate
brought on Nicolae Mitea for a somewhat ineffectual Tom de Mul
and the fleet Romanian would play a role in the stunning
equalizer.
It was a goal worthy of a coach's chalk-talk: it would
diagram up so beautifully. First, 'Man of the Match' George
Ogararu brought the ball out of defense up the left flank. Then
he passed the ball to Mitea, who pirouetted neatly and laid the
ball off to Gabri. The Spaniard, who had struggled on the day,
did the right thing this time: his perfectly weighted pass
found Ogararu busting up the right wing and the Georgian,
who had started it all, created the finish by placing
a pin-point cross on the head of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar,
who stood unmarked above the penalty spot. 'The Hunter'
converted with supreme confidence and ease. Waterreus could
only watch as the ball pounded into the far bottom corner: 2-2
(75').
There would be no last-gasp heroics by other side. But
there was a bit of nastiness in the 80th minute, as Huntelaar
lashed out at Simon Cziommer, who was attempting to time-waste.
The young Ajax striker was extremely lucky to remain on
the field, not even cautioned, after he stuck his studs high on
the shin of the AZ player after the referee had blown a
foul for Ajax. Earlier in the game, former Ajax man Tim de
Cler could also have been sent off, for an extremely violent
foul on Urby Emanuelson. Indeed, Ajax and AZ had their bayonets
fixed for this very entertaining derby of the
Noord-Holland province.
There was plenty of post-game entertainment, too. You can
leave that to Henk ten Cate and Louis van Gaal, two
football coaches with... let's say, a
certain temperament. The two gentlemen annoyed
each other by claiming that their side was the best
on the day and should have won. In all honesty, Ten
Cate's claim was a bit closer to the truth than Van
Gaal's. If one team would have deserved the win, it would
have been Ajax. Fact is, however, that the final
score was 2-2 and that only one club will
be genuinely pleased with that: PSV, who are now seven
points clear of AZ and eight of Ajax... (JM)
GOALS
- 35' 1-0 John Heitinga
- 51' 1-1 Shota Arveladze
- 57' 1-2 David Mendes da Silva
- 75' 2-2 Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Referee: Braamhaar
Yellow cards: Huntelaar (Ajax), De Cler,
Opdam, Steinsson (AZ).
Attendance: 50,649
Ajax line-up: Stekelenburg; Ogararu,
Stam, Grygera, Lindenbergh (58. Vermaelen); Gabri, Heitinga,
Emanuelson; De Mul (69. Mitea), Huntelaar, Babel (77.
Rosenberg).
AZ line-up: Waterreus; Steinsson,
Jaliens, Opdam, De Cler; De Zeeuw (46. Cziommer), Mendes da
Silva, Martens (46. Jenner), Schaars; Arveladze,
Dembélé (78. Lens).
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