Amstel Cup: Young Ajax in third round after 0-3 win at TEC
TEC - Young Ajax 0-3 (0-2)
Sportpark De Lok, Tiel
Thursday, 25 September, 2003
As tough as it was for Young Ajax to get past Top Class
amateur side IJsselmeervogels in the first round of the Amstel
Cup, as easy it was in the second round against TEC, yet
another oppponent playing on the highest amateur level in The
Netherlands. Young Ajax freewheeled to a comfortable 0-3 win
and can start preparing for its first professional opposition
in this season's Amstel Cup run: FC Den Bosch, currently second
in the First Division.
Jamal Akachar eludes TEC
defender. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
The team of coaches John van 't Schip and Marco van Basten
had a moral obligation to keep the score-sheet clean against
TEC, as 75% of the Young Ajax defence - not even including
goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg - was 'borrowed' from the first
squad: Nigel de Jong, Johnny Heitinga and Jelle Van Damme
played alongside Niklas Moisander, the only 'real' Young Ajax
defender. The quartet did not allow the orange and white of TEC
a single scoring chance. The only moment of danger for the
hosts was a Hank Leutemia free-kick, although Stekelenburg did
not even have to stretch to push it over the cross-bar.
Coach John van 't Schip had warned his players for the
heigth and physical power of the opposition. TEC was physically
stronger indeed, but Young Ajax was faster and considerable
better skilled. The amateurs never had the chance to take
advantage of their physical power. For the large part of the
game they found themselves chasing the ball.
A goal for the Amsterdammers was inevitable. It was scored
after half an hour, as Anthony Obodai smartly headed past
goalkeeper Danny Versteeg on a stylishly chipped Muller van
Moppes thru-pass. The Ghanese midfielder, not exactly known as
a killer in front of goal, pretty much sealed Young Ajax's
victory shortly before the break. Jason Culina received the
ball in shooting position, but left it for an onrushing Obodai,
who beat Versteeg with a fine, low shot: 0-2.
Van 't Schip praised the Ghanese midfielder after the game:
"Obodai played very efficiently. He switched well from defence
to attack and was secure in his passing. He's a quiet guy, but
he perfectly meets the Ajax standards now. He learned a
lot."
Much less satisfied was Van 't Schip with one of his
greatest talents: Daniël de Ridder, who was punished for
his apathetic performance by a humbling substitution just
before the half-time break. With Esajas as his replacement
Young Ajax created many chances in the second half, but only
added one extra goal. A fine Nigel de Jong rush over the right
flank, 'Trabelsi style', was terminated by a foul. Jason Culina
converted calmly from the spot.
The story of the Australian forward is a remarkable one. He
played for Young Ajax for several years, until he slowly became
too old for it and the club concluded that he was not good
enough for the first team. He was loaned out to De Graafschap,
got relegated with them and returned to Amsterdam as a
cast-off. However, he is scoring one goal after the other for
Young Ajax this season and was rewarded for his inpsired
performanced with the captain's armband against TEC.
Van 't Schip after the game: "Games against Top Class sides
are valuable experiences for us, because we've reached the
point where we are generally expected to win them. Which means
there is a different kind of pressure now." Indeed, two fine
runs in recent seasons turned Young Ajax into a team no Amstel
Cup participant will underestimate. You'd almost forget how
unusual the achievements of the rookies from De Toekomst still
are. Other reserves teams always drop out early, sometimes
against amateur opposition. How tricky a game against a Top
Class amateur side can be is underscored by the second round
result of Eredivisie side Roda JC, who saw their cup campaign
painfully terminated by amateur side Baronie from Breda
(1-0).
Starting with the third round fixture at FC Den Bosch
however, Young Ajax will continue its 'cup safari' in a role
more suitable for a reserves team: the role of the underdog.
(MP)
GOALS
- 32' 0-1 Anthony Obodai
- 41' 0-2 Anthony Obodai
- 56' 0-3 Jason Culina (penalty)
Referee: Zeinstra
Cards: none
Attendance: 2,500
Young Ajax line-up: Stekelenburg; De Jong,
Heitinga, N. Moisander (46. Valencia [57. Kujala]), Van Damme;
Obodai, Muller van Moppes, Akachar; De Ridder (42.
Esajas), Culina, Mitea.
TEC line-up: D. Versteeg; Benbouya,
Okçan, R. Versteeg, Van Essen, Ajiach, Konak (88. El
Makrini), Leatemia (88. Leihitu), Verbeek, Haaksman, Van den
Brink (75. Haisch).
Third round draw:
FC Eindhoven - Willem II
Hoek - BV Veendam
Excelsior - Sparta Rotterdam
RBC Roosendaal - FC Groningen
FC Omniworld - RKC Waalwijk
Vitesse - FC Volendam
Cambuur Leeuwarden - FC Twente
Baronie - Heracles Almelo
SC Heerenveen - Stormvogels Telstar
FC Den Bosch - Young Ajax
Games to be played on 28 and 29 October. FC Den
Bosch vs Young Ajax to be played on Wednesday
29 October, 20:00 CET. The clubs playing
in UEFA competition (PSV, Ajax, Feyenoord, NAC Breda, NEC
and FC Utrecht) enter competition in round four.
Related links
