Unconvincing: 0-1 win at Heracles
0 (0) - 1
(0)
Eredivisie
Polman Stadium, Almelo
Saturday, 15 September, 2007
After a layoff because of the qualifying matches for Euro
2008, Ajax returned to Eredivisie action with what was expected
to be a relatively easy away game at lowly
Heracles Almelo, one of the sides that failed to grab a single
point from their first three matches. But 'easy' wasn't exactly
the appropriate word, to say the least. The Amsterdammers
struggled once again, and only a spectacular 76th minute goal
from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and a great penalty save from Maarten
Stekelenburg prevented Ajax from leaving with only one point:
0-1.
With all the speculation regarding manager Henk ten Cate's
future, it was ironic to see his name plastered all over the
opposition's jerseys: the Koninklijke ('Royal') Ten
Cate are Heracles' main sponsor and also the manufacturers of
the artifical pitch at Almelo's Polman Stadium. Ajax hate the
stuff. Ten Cate (Henk) on Ten Cate (the pitch-makers): "I
don't want to use it as an excuse for our poor performance, but
I still think the stuff is a disaster."
Ajax's cause was not helped beforehand with further injuries
to an already depleted Ajax squad: Robbert Schilder (loaned out
to Heracles last season) had not recovered from the
effects of a throat illness, whilst Kennedy
Bakirçioglü had picked up an abdominal injury in
Sweden's international match against Montenegro. However, it
was announced during the week that George Ogararu would be
returning to first team duties, having sufficiently recovered
from a hamstring injury picked up in the match against
Slavia Prague in Amsterdam.
Second-half substitute Jurgen
Colin. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
Ajax started with a 4-3-3 line up, with yet a
different midfield formation (Gabri, Heitinga and
Vertonghen) and a front line of Suárez, Huntelaar and
Luque. Because of this, Urby Emanuelson moved back
into defence, but it was the left fullback who created Ajax's
first chance of the match after eight minutes. Moving
forward from the left, he hit a low drive which the
goalkeeper gathered at the second attempt. Heracles nearly
grabbed a shock opener two minutes later when Ricky van
den Bergh had a great chance but failed to convert. Ten
minutes later and Stekelenburg saved from Everton, as the Ajax
defence was once again found lacking.
On the half hour, Albert Luque nearly grabbed the initiative
for the Amsterdammers, but Martin Pieckenhagen in the Hercales
goal produced a smart save. Luis Suárez, who had been
having a quiet game by his recent standards, nearly added to
his season's total when, at the 38th minute, he collected a
ball outside the box on the left. Breaking free from his
defensive marker, Suárez hit a low left footed shot
which the keeper did well to save.
The game was about to take a further turn after 41 minutes
when Heracles were awarded a penalty. Stekelenburg had produced
a great save from a Heracles attack. The resulting ball drifted
towards the center of the box where Van den Bergh was brought
down by a sloppy tackle from Emanuelson. Referee
Roelof Luinge immediately pointed to the spot and booked
Emanuelson for his troubles. The much maligned Stekelenburg
then produced a terrific save to his right from Everton's
penalty, to ensure that the Amsterdammers would
go into the break on level terms.
At half time, Ogararu was replaced by Jurgen Colin. The
Romanian's hamstring injury played up again, begging the
question whether he was fit enough to start the game
in the first place. Or was 'Ten Cate' (the company) to
blame...?
Gabri duels with Heracles
veteran Rob Maas. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
Ajax's injury worries were compounded within ten minutes of
the start of the second half when Luis Suárez fell on
the edge of the box, clutching his hamstring. He was replaced a
minute later by Dennis Rommedahl. A diagnosis was
impossible on the evening itself.
Urby Emanuelson created a few chances for Ajax, with one in
particular showing signs of his 'old self' by picking the ball
up and drifting past players before hitting a shot from the
edge of the box, and then... indeed: another injury. Ten
Cate had to replace Jaap Stam with Hedwiges
Maduro (70'). Last season, Stam did not want to play on
'Ten Cate' at Polman Stadium and was left out of the
team, but this year Ten Cate (are you still with
us...?) decided that there were enough injuries already.
Ogararu, Suárez and Stam injured, less than twenty
minutes left on the clock and Ajax did not look great
(and that's Ajax USA's entry for the 'Understatement of the
Month'). It was starting to look bad for the Amsterdammers, but
up popped Klaas-Jan Huntelaar with one spectacular goal in the
76th minute. A cross from Dennis Rommedahl from the right
hand side of the box was met athletically by Huntelaar who
somehow, with his back to Pieckenhagen's goal, positioned
himself to hit a powerful volley past the despairing
Heracles goalkeeper. It was a 75% bicycle kick, so to
say, and a goal fit to grace a game of better football
than this.
'Ajax is art?' Well, okay, for
precisely one second in Almelo:
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's lone goal. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
With less than one minute of regulation time left on the
clock, Lakic of Heracles and Gabri of Ajax were yellow carded.
This looked to be the last action of a poor game but during the
three minutes of added time both teams had scoring
opportunities. The best fell to Heracles when Klavan
rattled the crossbar with Stekelenburg beaten. Indeed:
Ajax couldn't complain about this result in Almelo.
Ajax looked relieved to hear the final whistle. "The three
points and Klaas' wonderful goal are the only things we can
be pleased with," said Ten Cate (Henk, not the 'plastic
pitch man'). All's well that ends well? Not really, as the
injuries picked up by Suárez, Stam and possibly Ogararu
could spell trouble (particularly in Zagreb, on Thursday) for
an already depleted squad, and one where no player bar Suarez
has shown any great form so far this season. (Gordon
Paterson)
GOAL
- 76' 0-1 Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Referee: Luinge
Yellow cards: Emanuelson, Gabri
(Ajax), Lakic (Heracles Almelo)
Attendance: 8,500
Ajax line-up: Stekelenburg; Emanuelson,
Ogararu (46. Colin), Stam (69. Maduro), Vermaelen; Gabri,
Heitinga, Vertonghen; Suárez (55. Rommedahl), Huntelaar,
Luque.
Heracles Almelo line-up: Pieckenhagen;
Boakye, Wuytens, Bosnar (79. Quansah), Looms; Bridji, Maas, Van
den Bergh, Klavan; Everton, Lakic.
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