Ajax grab third consecutive J.C. Shield against PSV: 0-1
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Johan Cruijff Shield
Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam
Saturday, 11 August, 2007
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For the third year in a row the curtain raiser to the new Dutch
season, the Johan Cruijff Shield (= the Dutch Super Cup), was
fought out between PSV (2007 champions) and Ajax (2007 cup
winners) at a surprisingly full, in fact nearly sold out,
Amsterdam ArenA. And for the third straight year the Amsterdam
side were the victors. A Gabri goal, two minutes before the
half-time break of an otherwise extremely dull
encounter, made the difference between the two sides:
1-0.
As a game, regarded as a preview of the new season between
the country's top two clubs, this match did nothing
to excite the crowd at the stadium or the viewing public
at home: there were very few goal scoring opportunities, very
little drama and not one player on either side shone
through in a manner to excite those watching. In fact the
enjoyment of this victory was soon forgotten with the departure
of
Wesley Sneijder to Real Madrid, which was finalized the
next day, but which was the talk of the day on Saturday, even
during the match. Sneijder, by the way, was suspended
for the fixture, due to accumulated yellow cards in last
season's KNVB Cup campaign. He did not make an appearance on
the stands, either, but preferred to stay at home and avoid the
questions.
Gregory van der Wiel came on for
Ogararu early in the game. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
Ajax started the game with a 4-4-2 formation, with Kennedy
Bakirçioglü playing in the 'Sneijder role',
Rommedahl as the right forward and (despite
stories last week) Klaas-Jan Huntelaar as the left one.
PSV boss Ronald Koeman, in his turn, was also forced to
improvise, in default of much of his 'strike force'
(Lazovic, Farfán, Perez and Koné were all
missing). It underscored that thisCruijff Shield fixture, even
more so than in previous years, was a friendly more than
anything else. PSV were very incomplete, whereas
Ajax's focus was already on Slavia Prague.
Ajax started the match comfortably enough, without creating any
clear cut chances. This has been a feature of almost all
pre-season games so far: Ajax having plenty of possession of
the ball without really creating anything. The Ajax
defence appears now to be quite a solid unit, maybe not showing
the flair going forward that previous defenders have shown but
less prone to defensive lapses. This was demonstrated in the
25th minute when Ogararu was replaced by Van der Wiel due to
minor hamstring injury, without any feeling that the
changed defence would give much away.
During the first half Ajax were the better team, but they
appeared to be heading to half time with the game being tied
when Gabri scored what proved to be the only goal of the game.
After some good work by Huntelaar and Rommendahl, and the PSV
defence at sixes and sevens, the ball fell to Gabri, who took
one touch before volleying emphatically past Gomez: 1-0
(43'). If the Spaniard can control his temper,
he will prove to be a very vital player for Ajax in the
season ahead. His work rate is excellent and he is getting
forward more than previously seen.
Once again, captain Jaap Stam was taken off at half time
(Slavia on Wednesday, remember?!), this time to be replaced by
Mitchell Donald. Those at the stadium hoping for a
better second half after an insipid first,
were to be sorely disappointed. The second half must have
been the worst game of football this correspondent and
those around him in the stadium watched in a long time.
Victory against PSV at any time is something to be cherished,
but games like this, despite the win, will not stay long in the
memory.
There were very few noticeable incidents in the
secnond half, a Huntelaar chance after 62 minutes being
the most memorable. After good work by Emanuelson and Rommedahl
on the right hand side the ball was played to Huntelaar all on
his own at the edge of the six yard box. His first time effort
was spectacularly tipped over the bar by Gomes. The PSV
goalkeeper also saved spectacularly on a Huntelaar free-kick
that would have beaten almost every other
goalkeeper.
John Heitinga, always one to fight for the Ajax cause, once
again proved his commitment by picking up a yellow card with
less than ten minutes to go. After Emanuelson was
caught very late by Aissati, Heitinga went charging across the
pitch to remonstrate with the PSV midfielder. A handbags at
dawn situation developed, resulting in Heitinga and
Aissati being booked by referee Bossen.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has
received the shield from Phillip Cocu (far right). [Photo:
Ajax.nl]
So Ajax pick up their first piece of official KNVB silverware
of the new season. Not a great performance, but a winning one
all the same. Worryingly for Ajax the attack seems rather
ineffective so far with all goals scored in the handful of
'serious' pre-season test matches coming from the
midfield. Hopefully, the arrival of Luis
Suárez will change this (the ex-Groningen man is
said to be fit for Wednesday). On the night, Gabri was probably
the best player in an Ajax shirt. Of the two youngsters
brought on during the game, Van der Wiel and Donald, the former
had the more assured game. In fact, Donald had what can only be
called a stinker: he lacked pace, had a poor first touch
and numerous slack passes.
Normally after a victory over PSV, Ajax would go into the
following game with an air of confidence, but after the
departure of Sneijder all that remains is insecurity: how good
is this Ajax team - still? With the poor home performance
in last seasons dramatic Champions League qualifier in mind, it
will be interesting to see how Ajax react against Slavia Prague
on Wednesday evening. (Gordon Paterson)
GOALS
- 43' 1-0 'Gabri' García de la
Torre
Referee: Bossen
Yellow cards: Donald, Heitinga (Ajax),
Aissati (PSV)
Attendance: 47,500
Ajax line-up: Stekelenburg; Ogararu
(25. Van der Wiel), Stam (46. Donald), Colin, Vermaelen; Gabri,
Heitinga, Kennedy (81. Maduro) Emanuelson; Rommedahl,
Huntelaar.
PSV line-up: Gomes; Kromkamp (46.
Alcides), Addo, Salcido, Zonneveld; Simons, Afellay, Aissati,
Méndez (59. Culina); Bakkal, Reis (73. Zeefuik).
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