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Match Report:

Machlas returns, scoring two in draw against SC Heerenveen

02 October: "One victory and the problem is solved", is Co Adriaanse's comment on the curse that seems to paralyze Ajax as soon as the team bus drives outside of Amsterdam. It had almost happened in Heerenveen, the first out of three extremely tough away games in October, thanks to one man: Nikos Machlas, who made his first Ajax-1 appearance since he got injured on 26 March. The Greek scored both Ajax goals in game that ended in a fair 2-2 draw.

After almost eleven months without winning a single away game (seven defeats, six draws), Ajax is painfully vulnerable outside the ArenA. "I can imagine the players get a gloomy view on things right away, after going 1-0 down again in an away game," said Adriaanse. His team demonstrated so in the first half, in which an apathetic and completely disorganized Ajax defense allowed Danish talent Daniël Jensen to shoot against the cross-bar and finish the rebound himself. Just ten minutes gone - and plenty of reasons for having a 'gloomy view on things'.

SC Heerenveen could have eliminated Ajax within half an hour, but Fred Grim saved a well-struck Lurling shot and reacted properly as Jeffrey Talan simply slipped past John Nieuwenburg, creating himself an open chance to double the score. On the other side of the pitch, Petri Pasanen seemed to equalize by beating goalkeeper Vonk with a header from a Witschge corner kick, but defender Ronnie Venema was in position at the goal line to clear with his head.

Nikos Machlas got his first, somewhat luckily created chance as well, but was too surprised by finding himself in scoring position to hit the ball right. A 1-1 score at half time would have been undeserved anyway, because frankly, the hard working Ajax team was a tactical mess in the first 45 minutes.

After the break, the team entered the pitch with remarkable self-confidence - making the spectators wonder where they got it from. Within ten minutes, Ajax showed that the quality of the team is not the problem. Some beautiful attacking patterns on midfield brought Aron Winter in shooting position. The cross-bar saved Heerenveen for exactly one second, as Nikos Machlas artistically placed his head against the rebouncing ball: 1-1 (53).

The team that had proved itself the better side during the large part of the first half, now seemed ready to be knocked out. Nikos Machlas seemed to do so, after (once more) a beautiful Aron Winter assist. The Ajax captain penetrated the heart of the Heerenveen defense from the right hand side. His cross was fast and low; it ended up in the net after a Machlas touch (66). A typical goal for a real centre-forward.

The allure of the game was best demonstrated by the remaining 25 minutes: the three points seemed to be going to Amsterdam, but Ajax allowed Heerenveen a goal in the annoying way we've seen too often this season: the Ajax defenders were apparently sleepwalking as Cristian Chivu provided Johan Hansma the space to slam his head against the ball (77). Thirteen tough minutes seemed ahead of Ajax, but the best chance in the remainder of the game was for Cedric van der Gun, who should have made it 2-3 one minute after the equalizer, having a clear way to Vonk, but sloppily shooting straight into the goalies hands.

One point in Heerenveen. It's not even that bad as such, but after PSV and Feyenoord won their games this weekend, the two points lost seem more important. By fits and starts, Ajax plays well enough to believe that Co Adriaanse is right: "One victory and the problem is solved." Could be, but the difficulty is that the next two away games are against current number one, Vitesse, and numer two, PSV. (MP)

GOALS
  • 10' 1-0 Daniël Jensen
  • 53' 1-1 Nikos Machlas
  • 66' 1-2 Nikos Machlas
  • 77' 2-2 Johan Hansma
Referee: Temmink
Bookings: G. de Nooijer (Heerenveen), Witschge, Nieuwenburg, Pasanen, Van der Meyde, Van der Vaart (Ajax)
Attendance: 14,300

Ajax line-up: Grim; Nieuwenburg, Pasanen, Chivu, Bergdølmo; Winter (77. Van der Vaart), Galásek, Witschge; Van der Gun, Machlas (85. Hosé), Wamberto (72. Van der Meyde).

SC Heerenveen line-up: Vonk; Venema, Hansma, Ebbinge, G. de Nooijer (46. Klompe); Nurmela, Radomski, Talan; Jensen, Huizingh (63. Denneboom), Lurling (76. Kolk).