Typically weak Ajax defense lets Vitesse back in, squanders two more points
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2 (0) |
Eredivisie
Gelredome, Arnhem
Sunday, 27 Jan 2008
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It was a disappointing first half, where Ajax surrendered an early goal and then proceeded to create numerous scoring chances but put only one shot on target. Trailing 0-1, the Amsterdammers stormed out of the gate at the restart, and Urby Emanuelson's beautifully crafted goal in the first minute suggested an Ajax onslaught in the second half. A scrappy 2nd goal, from Luis Suarez, seemed to confirm that trend, as the visitors went up 1-2. But never rule out an opponent that faces this Ajax back line...
Just five minutes after Ajax assumed the lead, irresolute defending by Emanuelson allowed Vitesse's Gommans to equalize. Despite nearly 40 more minutes of frantic, end to end football, there would be no more goals. Ajax must feel like their championship hopes are melting away.
New man in defense: Silva battles with Vitesse players. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
Ajax came into today's game riding high, after Wednesday's comprehensive 2-0 victory over FC Utrecht at the ArenA, their first shut-out victory since the last time they played Utrecht, on October 28, 2007. Could they continue their improved defensive form in the considerably less hospitable Gelredome?
Eh... no.
At the outset, Vitesse played aggressively and with conviction, while Ajax seemed to take (how many times have we seen it this season?) painfully long to warm up to the game. Just when they seemed to be coming out of their opening phase stupor, Vitesse scored on a quick, opportunistic attack. Klas-Jan Huntelaar was dispossessed in the Ajax half, and Theo Janssen's precise chip over the Ajax back line put Junker, who's becoming something of an Ajax-killer, through on goal. Stekelenburg came out to close him down, but Junker was too fast, and his lob over the Ajax 'keeper was perfect: 1-0.
Still, despite the goal, Ajax had begun to demonstrate some genuine improvement over their form from before the Winter break. Defense was somewhat more solid; new purchase Silva seemed fairly reliable as a one on one defender, though clearly still struggling to get to know his new team's habits. Midfield was even more encouraging... Ajax enjoyed the majority of possession, and created far more clear scoring chances than Vitesse, though they managed to put just one shot on goal.
Actually, some of those chances were so solid-gold that it's remarkable Ajax didn't score in the first half. Most astonishing was Gabri's miss from 10 yards out, after Suarez had worked hard to set him up in front of goal. The Spaniard managed to put the ball over the crossbar, from the kind of position where it's harder to miss than hit the target. Despite that wasted chance, Gabri had a good game, contributing to a much more confident and organized midfield than in prior weeks.
Surprisingly, the weakest player in midfield was the captain, Edgar Davids, who struggled all day and gave the ball away repeatedly. On the other hand, Kenneth Perez seemed to be settling back into his good form for his once and future team. Many of the best chances for Ajax were orchestrated by Perez.
After the interval, Ajax burst out of the gate and scored within the first minute, on a beautiful series initiated and finished by Emanuelson. The confidence-stricken defender had shifted into a more attacking midfield role with the introduction of Vermaelen to the back line, in place of Vertonghen. It did not take long to pay dividends, as Emanuelson's first touch of the half was to nick a weak Vitesse through-pass at midfield. He charged forward and then passed to Kenneth Perez, whose perfectly placed one-touch back to Emanuelson put the Ajax player face to face with Velthuizen; the on-rushing defender finished superbly: 1-1. It was his first Eredivisie goal since April 2007.
Emanuelson started and finished Ajax' best move of the day. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
It was not a fluke; Ajax were on fire, and Vitesse was under siege. Ajax quite realistically could have had three or four goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Four minutes later, a low, raking shot by Suarez was saved but not controlled by Velthuizen. Suarez pounced on the loose ball and slipped it into the empty net: 1-2.
Was the rout on? Perhaps... Ajax seemed likely to score again, but it never came off. Meanwhile, Vitesse seemed capable of creating only vague half-chances.
And then... a sadly familiar refrain... A shockingly bad bit of defending by current whipping boy Emanuelson gave Gommans a shot on goal from just ten yards out. Sandi Kolk's short cross set up a flick-on header into the penalty area by Junker. The ball looped over the penalty spot to Gommans, who had been marked moments ago by Emanuelson. But at the crucial moment, the Vitesse striker was so completely unmarked that he had time to let the ball fall to his feet for a shot instead of having to put his head to it. An unchallenged volley from that distance... Stekelenburg had no chance: 2-2.
Despite nearly 40 more minutes of frantic, end to end football, there would be no more goals. In the final ten minutes, Vitesse and Ajax each had chances to steal the points. The best of them all fell to Rommedahl, who's deft but underpowered chip beat goalkeeper Velthuizen but not Sprockel, who easily cleared the ball off his line.
So, this is Ajax: Exciting? Absolutely. Capable of fantastic attacking play? Yes, occasionally. Stalwart and reliable in defense? Hell, no. Champions of the Eredivisie? That is looking far less likely with every game. Ajax can still turn it around with victories in their next two games, but PSV and Feyenoord won't make that an easy task. (Jim McGough)
Goals:
- 07' 1-0 Junker
- 46' 1-1 Emanuelson
- 50' 1-2 Suárez
- 55' 2-2 Gommans
Referee: Braamhaar
Yellow Cards: Sprockel, Takak, Van der Schaaf (Vitesse); Davids (Ajax).
Attendance: 22,700
Lineups:
- Ajax line-up: Stekelenburg; Bruno Silva, Heitinga, Vertonghen (46. Vermaelen), Emanuelson; Gabri, Perez, Davids (69. De Jong); Rommedahl, Huntelaar, Suárez (66. Leonardo).
- Vitesse line-up: Velthuizen; Verhaegh, Sprockel, Sansoni, Swerts; Takak (90. Yakubu), Van der Schaaf, Janssen; Gommans, Kolk (87. Lorca), Junker (92. Kaya).
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