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Match Report: No goals scored in Qatar friendly

19 January: "As a friendly game, this was very poor", said Co Adriaanse, "but we have worked very hard and very well for ten days. Tonight's result can't spoil that." The poor friendly game the Ajax coach is talking about is the friendly game against the Qatar national team, on the last day of a training camp in the Middle-Eastern state. The final result of the dull training game was 0-0.

The game was a minor event for Ajax, but a major thing for the Qatar team. The team was determined and the game was shown live on national television. Maybe that's why only 5,000 spectators had come to Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar's capital.

According to Ajax.nl's report of the game, right winger Pius Ikedia was the only Ajacied to show some creative moves every once in a while. the only real Ajax chance came after a corner kick: Nikos Machlas' header attempt just went past the wrong side of the post.

Qatar came much closer to victory. Ajax could have gone a goal down after only four minutes, a Muhammed Gulam free kick was almost succesful after some 15 minutes and after a smart pass by Mustafa Mubarak a team mate of his showed up in front of Fred Grim, who saved Ajax.

The best chances in the second half were - again - created by Qatar. The team's centre forward beat Fred Grim in the 88th minute, but the ball just missed the empty goal. The Amsterdammers were lucky in a 90th minute scrimmage in front of Grim's goal as well.

A poor Ajax performance in a boring game, but the Qatar crowd had an unforgettable night anyway: referee Mandini interrupted the game after only ten minutes, for the official goodbye to Qatar captain and national sports hero, Yussuf Al Kuwari, who was given an American jeep as a farewell present during the half-time break.

A disappointing result to finish a great week off with: the Ajax team went on a group trip into the desert driving small desert motor cycles called 'sand jeeps', they played some golf at the luxurious Doha Golf Club, went sailing, paragliding and water skiing.

"Of course, we would rather have won this one. But we have hardly had a scoring chance. But we have been able to prepare for the second season's half under excellent circumstances. The players know what to do. The team concept is made clear to them."

The team can prove that the trip was worth the effort in a week's time, as the second season's half kicks off with the third round Amstel Cup home game against Vitesse (8:30pm CET). (MP)

Referee: Mandini (Kuwayt)
Cards: none
Attendance: 5,000
Ajax line-up: Grim; Bergdølmo, Chivu, Yakubu, Sier; Winter, Hersi, Cruz; Ikedia, Machlas, Wamberto.
Players subbed in for second half: Kanu, Pasanen, Witschge, De Cler, Arveladze, Galásek and Van der Meyde.