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Young Ajax off to confident Amstel Cup start
Young Ajax - AZ: 2-2
Sportpark De Toekomst, Amsterdam
09 August: Young Ajax got off to a promising start in this
year's Amstel Cup competition with a 2-2 draw against AZ
Alkmaar, number ten in the Eredivisie league standings last
season.
This Young Ajax is hardly the same team that did so well in
the Amstel Cup last season. Walker, Obodai and Quansah have
moved on to Germinal Beerschot, Culina is loaned out to De
Graafschap and goalkeeper Stekelenburg has been called up to
the first team due to the injuries of Lobont and Didulica.
Also, successful head coach Jan Olde Riekerink has left the
team and has been replaced by Gerard van der Lem, former
assistant of Louis van Gaal at Ajax and last season's head
coach of AZ.
His predecessor at AZ, Henk van Stee had to admit that this
Young Ajax was very strong: "This team can easily compete with
average clubs in the Eredivisie". And no wonder, with so many
former first team players like Yakubu, Van der Gun, De Cler,
Vierklau, Seedorf and Pienaar lined up for Ajax. Also, newcomer
Nordin Boukhari was in the team and played his first Ajax
match. This Ajax team was not so young as their name
suggested.
Young Ajax - AZ was an attractive game with loads of chances
on both sides. If Young Ajax would have been more efficient in
finishing their chances, they might easily have won the game.
Van der Gun and Pienaar were particularly unsuccessful with the
chances they got. Nevertheless it was Young Ajax that took the
lead after some 30 minutes. Stefano Seedorf opened the score
with a low shot after a pass from Pienaar. Just before half
time AZ equalized as Robin Nelisse fired the ball behind young
goalie Robert Zwinkels.
In the second half AZ started better than Ajax and created a
few good chances. But after some 15 minutes, Young Ajax got
control over the match again and were often close to taking the
lead. Despite the superiority of Ajax, half way through the
second half it was AZ that scored the go-ahead goal (1-2). The
Ajax goalie couldn't control a Martijn Meerdink shot and it was
Nelisse again who scored in the rebound. But their lead didn't
last for long. Six minutes later, Pienaar deftly delivered the
ball to Seedorf who scored again: 2-2.
With this draw Ajax and AZ did a great job. They both now
have to play against amateur sides Ter Leede and Hollandia.
Since the numbers one and two in the group will go through, it
is to be expected that both AZ and Young Ajax will reach the
next round. (BV)
GOALS
- 29' 1-0 Stefano Seedorf
- 43' 1-1 Robin Nelisse
- 75' 1-2 Robin Nelisse
- 81' 2-2 Stefano Seedorf
Referee: Jol
Yellow cards: Seedorf (Ajax), Reini (AZ)
Attendance: 3,000
Young Ajax line-up: Zwinkels; De Jong, Vierklau,
Yakubu, De Cler; Kujala, Pienaar, Seedorf; Van der Gun (80.
Krohn-Dehli), Hosé (63. Sneijder) Boukhari.
AZ line-up: Moens; Buskermolen, Opdam, Volmer (35.
Perez), Wijker; Meerdink, Reini, Robbemond, Van Galen (57.
Lindenbergh). Elkhattabi, Nelisse.
