Ajax off to promising start v Atletico Madrid: 2-0
2 (0) - 0
(0)
Amsterdam Tournament
Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam
Thursday, 02 August, 2007
In their biggest pre-season test so far, on the
opening evening of the annual Amsterdam
Tournament, Ajax booked a rather impressive 2-0 win
against Spanish top side Atlético de Madrid. Gabri and
Wesley Sneijder were the (second half) goal scorers at the
ArenA. The biggest talking point, however, was not some of
the surprisingly good play, especially during
the first 25 minutes of the second half, nor Sneijder's
wonderful goal, but the sheer stupidity of Gabri with 30
seconds to go. The Spaniard elbowed Sabrosa right in front
of the referee, resulting in a sending off. Luckily for Ajax
and Gabri this act of folly was not punished more severely:
Gabri received a four match ban... from friendly games
only.
This was Ajax's first game since their pre-season training
camp at Stirling University in Scotland, and friendly matches
against Glasgow Rangers and Falkirk, a tour where Ajax were far
from impressive in the matches played, with a draw (Rangers)
and defeat (Falkirk) to show for their efforts.
Ajax's new defender, Jurgen Colin, is physically strong...
[Photo: Ajax.nl]
Ajax went into their most difficult pre-season game so far
in a less than full Amsterdam ArenA. The tournament was highly
prestigious in its first years, but now it would appear that
the LG Amsterdam Tournament is definitely not capturing the
imagination of the paying public anymore.
The line-up for the game against the Spaniards had two
players making their first competitive appearance in an Ajax
jersey at the ArenA: forward Kennedy
Bakirçioglü and defender Jurgen Colin. Ajax
began the match with a 4-4-2 formation, with Kennedy and
Huntelaar being the two front men. Both John Heitinga and Urby
Emanuelson, who started their Ajax careers in defense, began in
a more forward midfield position. Sneijder, who delighted the
Ajax faithful during the summer by prolonging his Ajax career
for another season, took the other midfield position along
with Gabri. In defense, Stam returned to the heart,
alongside new signee Colin at left back.
The opening minutes of the game were very tentative with
both teams sounding each other out and no real clear cut
chances. After 15 minutes Ajax had a penalty shout turned down
when Gabri, running into the box, appeared to be brought down
from behind.
The Ajax midfield then began to take command of the game
with both Sneijder and Gabri getting plenty of opportunity to
support the front two. Indeed Ajax's best efforts of the first
half came from midfield, with both Sneijder and Heitinga
hitting fine efforts from outside the Atlético
box. The first half petered out nonetheless, with
neither side really creating any chances.
Another 'ArenA débutant': Dennis Rommedahl. [Photo:
Ajax.nl]
At half-time, Ten Cate brought about some changes with
Hedwiges Maduro on for Stam, and Dennis Rommedahl on for
Kennedy. These changes brought about an immediate response,
with Ajax scoring their first goal in the 47th minute: a
lovely passing movement resulted in a wicked cross from
Emanuelson, which set up Gabri's precise header
past goalkeeper Abbiati. This goal changed the face of the
game and Ajax now began to play a far more direct game with
some lovely forward passing. Rommedahl did what Kennedy had not
done in first half: getting himself into great space with the
midfield making fine passes to him.
In the 53rd minute Atlético showed that there
were actually two sides in this game, with Sarbrosa
forcing a fine save from Stekelenburg, yet it was no
surprise that Ajax scored their second goal only six minutes
later. It was a 'Wes special'. Collecting the ball from Maduro
outside the box, Sneijder manoeuvered himself into shooting
position and hit a beautiful shot that went over the
head of Abbiati, then started to descend and slammed under the
cross-bar, into the Atlético goal: 2-0 (59').
For the first 25 minutess of the second half Ajax were in
total control of the game with the midfield looking
particularly good. And there were exciting moments to enjoy for
the crowd, too. In the 64th minute a
telling Sneijder pass released Rommendahl on the right
hand side but the Dane overhit his cross to the waiting
Huntelaar in the box. Straight after this, Maarten
Stekelenburg misjudged an Atlético cross, which hit the
bar and fell to a waiting Rodriguez at the far side of the
six-yard box. Fortunately for Ajax, the Spaniard contrived to
send the ball past the post. A sure let off for Ajax and
Stekelenburg in particular, who until that point had been
reasonably solid.
On 71 minutes Lopez was booked for a foul on Huntelaar.
Sneijder blazed the resulting free kick high and wide. Within a
minute Stekelenburg tipped a free kick past the post. Two
minutes later Huntelaar was replaced by young Mitchell Donald.
Although it would appear that Huntelaar was having a quiet
game, his movement of the ball at times was a joy to
watch.
The remainder of the game was played out in a quiet fashion
with everyone at the ground merely counting down the seconds.
And then, suddenly and out of the blue, Gabri elbowed Sabrosa
in the face in front of the referee, and was deservedly red
carded. Not for the first time in his Ajax career has the Latin
mist descended over Gabri's eyes. Up to that moment, Gabri had
looked Ajax's best player, but he spoiled this by this
action.
Over all, it surely was a satisfactory performance by
Ajax, although it revealed a few shortcomings as well.
Ajax seem to need for another left back as, to be fair
to Colin, this is not his natural position. A far
sterner test can be expected on Saturday evening against
Arsenal, but one which Ajax can show further progress in their
preparation for the forthcoming season. (Gordon Paterson)
GOALS
- 47' 1-0 'Gabri' García de la
Torre
- 59' 2-0 Wesley Sneijder
Referee: unknown
Yellow card:
Garcia (Atlético Madrid)
Red card: Gabri (Ajax, 90')
Attendance: 32,770
Ajax line-up: Stekelenburg; Ogararu,
Stam (46. Maduro), Colin, Vermaelen; Gabri, Heitinga,
Sneijder, Emanuelson; Kennedy (46. Rommedahl), Huntelaar
(74. Donald).
Atlético
Madrid line-up: Abbiati; Lopez, Seitaridis,
Costinha (58. Maniche), Eller, Garcia; Ibanez, Jurado (46.
Sabrosa), Mista; N. Rodriguez, Rodriguez.
Other result on Day 1: SS Lazio Roma -
Arsenal FC 1-2
Table after Day 1
(teams get one point for a draw, three for a win
and one extra point for each goal scored)
- Ajax: 5 points (goal-diff.: 2-0)
- Arsenal FC: 5 points (goal-diff.: 2-1)
- SS Lazio Roma: 1 point
- Atlético Madrid: 0 points
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