Remarkably weak Ajax draw with VVV Venlo
| 2 (2) |
2 (1) |
Eredivisie
Seacon Stadium, Venlo
Sunday, 30 Dec 2007
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It's not even 2008 yet, and already the Eredivisie title seems an impossible dream for Ajax, after a 2-2 draw at Venlo. It's not just that the Amsterdammers have extracted just two points from their past three matches, including those against two of the Eredivisie's weakest opponents. And not just that the Ajax defense cannot hold any lead. Overall, Ajax look a stunningly bad team, with no confidence, no creativity, and it seems, no chance of a title.
If you had looked ahead to this game when the fixture list was announced, you'd have reasonably thought that only one team would be going for an unbeaten record in December. That team would naturally be far superior in skill, ingenuity and commitment. One team would enjoy the majority of possession and almost all of the best scoring chances. And that team would, in the end, be disappointed to take only one point from this game. And you'd have been absolutely correct... unless you thought that team would be Ajax.
Remarkably, that describes the humble little side from Venlo, and not the giants from Amsterdam. VVV, newly promoted, playing in front of just 6,000 euphoric fans, outstripped their guests in virtually every aspect of the game except the scoreline.
VVV's Amrabat posed a problem for Ajax. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
From the kickoff, VVV looked more organized, more committed to attack, more dangerous. Their first decent chance came in just the second minute of play, when Oost's run into the box was cut off by Johnny Heitinga, the latter being the one bright spot in the spectacularly unreliable Ajax defense. Meanwhile, we can't even describe an Ajax attack in the opening phase, because it was virtually non-existant. Ajax lacked any confidence or coordination, and contented themselves by hoofing the ball up field and surrendering possession at every opportunity. The Amsterdammers looked completely clueless and inept. In fact, they looked like the minnows, totally outplayed by the bigger, bolder home side.
So it was almost embarrassing when Ajax put together their first really good move, 30 minutes into the half, and managed to score the opening goal. Against the run of play hardly captures the injustice of this scoreline. But it must be said... Suarez capitalized perfectly, collecting Gabri's cross on his chest, shaking off Mampuya's clumsy challenge and firing a low shot back across Wintjens and into the VVV goal.
So, would Ajax be emboldened? Would they raise their game and hold their fortunate lead?
Er, no. There was a modest level improvement in their play, but not nearly enough to extend their lead. 1-0 at halftime.
VVV came out of the intermission fired up, and they immediately put Ajax under pressure. Ten minutes after the re-start, Stekelenburg was forced to charge well out of his goal to clear the ball upfield. Was it luck, or just apathy that allowed the ball to fall at the feet of an unmarked Rachid Ofrany? It doesn't matter. What does matter is that the VVV winger blasted his first time shot from 45 yards, over a helpless Stekelenburg and into the empty goal. Ecstacy in Venlo.
As the second half progressed, VVV were again the better, more dangerous side, always looking like the team more likely to score. And again, it was Ajax who did score, very much against the run of play. Handball at the edge of the box, and Huntelaar stepped up to take the free kick. His well struck shot was on target but easily within reach of the Venlo 'keeper. Strangely, Wintjens chose to reach across his body with his right hand instead of parrying it away with his left. As a result, the ball was only partially deflected and found the back of the net.
The strangest thing was that Huntelaar probably should not have been on the field to take the kick, having committed what has to be described as his second bookable offense just a few minutes earlier, when he straight-armed a VVV defender's face in full view of the center official. But Kuipers chose to give Huntelaar only a verbal warning, no doubt mindful that the Ajax striker already had a yellow (a very stupid yellow, by the way, for dissent... complaining about the distance paced off by Kuipers on a free kick).
Huntelaar scored the go-ahead goal; perhaps he was lucky to still be on the pitch. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
So would this rather fortunate lead last, against a weak and tiring Venlo side?
Nope. Like a recurring bad dream... Ajax assumed the lead only to piss it away in the dying minutes. Shortly after Ogararu was sent off with his second yellow of the game (and only his second yellow of the season, in fact), VVV swung in a superb cross which found the head of an unmarked Sandro Calabro. His solid header from ten yards was unstoppable. 88th minute, 2-2.
Once again, Ajax only needed to run out the final few minutes to claim a rather fortunate three points. Once again, they failed.
In the final remaining minutes, neither team would come close to grabbing the lead. 2-2, and so ends a miserable December for Ajax.
YouTube video highlights.
So what can Ajax take from this match?
Emanuelson played well, relatively speaking. His form, especially in defense, had been shockingly bad recently. Today he was merely fair... a huge improvement, it must be said. And Johnny Heitinga played well. His amazing goal-line clearance briefly preserved Ajax' lead in the second half.
But the negatives are almost too many to list. Kennedy Bakirçioglü Dennis Rommedahl were both awful. The former was rather embarrassingly replaced by Maduru after just 33 minutes. Gabri looked nervous and shaky, with the exception of his fine cross to Suarez that led to Ajax' first goal.
How bad is the Ajax defense? This was the tenth time they've conceded two goals or more in a league game. The bottom team in the Eredivisie, Willem II, have conceded 27 goals in 18 games. Ajax have conceded 25 in 17.
After the game, Adrie Koster flabbergasted the assembled media by stating that the purchase of a defender will not be a top priority. "When Vermaelen and Van der Wiel are back, we already have a number of extra options".
It's true that replacing one player would not solve Ajax' problems in defense. There's no one main culprit. The entire Ajax defense has become a horror show.
Well, maybe there is one person who carries the weight of Ajax' abysmal form. And you have to wonder... how much longer will Arie Koster be around to shoulder that burden? (Jim McGough)
Goals:
- 37' 0-1 Luis Suárez
- 57' 1-1 Rachid Ofrany
- 77' 1-2 Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
- 88' 2-2 Sandro Calabro
Referee: Kuipers
Yellow Cards: Calabro (VVV); Ogararu (2x), Gabri, Huntelaar (Ajax).
Red Cards: Ogararu (2 yellows)
Attendance: 6,000
Lineups:
- Ajax line-up: Stekelenburg; Ogararu, Heitinga, Vertonhen, Emanuelson; Gabri, Bakircioglu (33. Maduro), De Jong; Rommedahl (62. Luque), Huntelaar (88. Colin), Suarez.
- VVV Venlo line-up: Wintjens; Mampuya, Reekers, Verdellen (82. Calabro), Fleuren; Kahya, Linssen, Auassar (82. Kantelberg); Ofrany (73. El Gaaouiri), Oost, Amrabat.
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