0820.html
Young (?) Ajax wins 6-0, pulls into next Amstel Cup
round
Young Ajax - Hollandia: 6-0
Sportpark De Toekomst, Amsterdam
Tuesday, 20 August, 2002
With two wins and one draw, and a spectacular goal
difference of fifteen goals scored and two conceded, Young Ajax
has pulled into the first official round of the Amstel Cup. The
final group game against the amateurs of Hollandia, from the
North-Holland town of Hoorn, was won 6-0.
Admittedly, Young Ajax was not so young this time.
Experienced AZ loanee Henk Timmer made his official debut in an
Ajax game, whereas the field line-up consisted of Ajax-1
players such as Van Halst, Machlas, Wamberto and Witschge.
Boukhari, Pienaar Yakubu and Heitinga are also members of
Ronald Koeman's squad, keeping the number of 'real' Young Ajax
players down to only two.
However, those two - Nigel de Jong and Wesley Sneijer -
scored half of Young Ajax' six goals against Hollandia.
Remarkable, because both youngsters played as defense backs,
which is usual for De Jong, but highly unusual for Sneijder
(normally an offensive midfielder or winger).
The Dutch weather gods move in mysterious ways this week.
After Ajax-1 had beaten FC Utrecht in a scorching-hot ArenA,
rain came down by the gallon at De Toekomst, where Young Ajax
had a poor start, but then scored one after the other once
breaking through.
The score could have been significantly larger, but Richard
Witschge, Wamberto and Nikos Machlas each hit the
woodwork. The latter could have washed away the frustration of
having dropped out of Ronald Koeman's favour, but he failed to
do so, even though he was provided with unmissable assists on
at least four occasions.
The guests would also have deserved a goal. Striker Vis
could have opened the scoring early in the game, but failed
face-to-face with Timmer just before the half-time break. In
the second half, midfielder Tom Hes even got to try it from the
penalty spot, but Timmer graced his debut by stopping the
penalty kick.
This game was hardly anything more than a formality. Only a
defeat with large figures could have brought Young Ajax' slot
in the next round into danger. Therefore, the game was used to
see some 'unemployed' members of the first team in action. The
real Young Ajax will play again in the next round, for which
the team has - once again - qualified in impressive style.
(MP)
GOALS
- 20' 1-0 Wesley Sneijder
- 26' 2-0 Abubakari Yakubu
- 39' 3-0 Steven Pienaar
- 57' 4-0 Wesley Sneijder
- 62' 5-0 Nigel de Jong
- 71' 6-0 Wamberto
Referee: Van Beek
Cards: none
Attendance: unknown
Young Ajax line-up: Timmer; De Jong, Heitinga,
Yakubu, Sneijder; Van Halst, Pienaar, Witschge; Wamberto,
Machlas, Boukhari.
Hollandia line-up: Heijblok; Kaleveld, Knijn, Meijer,
Van Veen (75. Aafjes), Bakker, Blankendal, Hes, Matthaei, De
Lege (51. Neuvel), Vis (75. Brilman).
Related links
