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Match Report: Utrecht, Jol too much for Ajax

Ajax got off to a bold start in the daunting away match against FC Utrecht today, but the relentless and unpunished physical play of the home side eventually wore down the visitors. Andy van der Meyde highlighted his recent good form with a wonderful self-made goal in the 7th minute. But Utrecht were the side that created more and also did more with what they created, eventually coasting to victory with three goals in the second half.

Referee Dick Jol was definitely a factor in this match, and you get the feeling that he likes it that way. It's his game, and he will make his mark. Despite a long and sustained campaign of ugly and cynical challenges by Utrecht players, Jol waved 'play on' and kept his yellow card in his back pocket for most of the first half. Newcomer Joey Didulica, playing his second match in place of injured Fred Grim, seemed a particular target of Utrecht's aggression.

The most disturbing moment came after just three minutes, when Didulica came off his line and slid to claim a through pass on the ground. Utrecht's Stijn Vreven came in late and, with no chance of touching the ball, slid into the Ajax keeper in an apparent attempt to win a penalty. Both players were injured on the play, with Didulica seeming to take the worst of it, a solid blow to the head. He recovered, and finished the match. But he would be harried, kicked and colided with for the next 87 minutes.

Ajax's lone goal was the product of persistent and creative play by van der Meyde, who ran onto a long pass and then turned past the Utrecht keeper Wapenaar. After carrying the ball to the end-line, van der Meyde was given enough time by the retreating defenders to turn and fire a blistering shot across the face of goal, hit with too much pace for the keeper to touch: 0-1.

Utrecht continuted to press throughout the first half, squandering some good opportunities to equalize. They came closest in the 16th minute, when a low shot from just outside the penalty area left Didulica unsighted and unable to stop. Only the far post kept the ball in play rather than in the Ajax goal.

The young Australian added some excitement to the match, racing from his penalty area on several occasions to clear balls out of play. It's difficult to judge whether these decisions were as prudent as they were brave, but the end-result was that several scoring chances were disrupted by Didulica's quick and aggressive interventions.

Perhaps the most bizarre moment of the match came in the 25th minute, when Utrecht's van den Bergh lashed out at the back of Yakubu's leg, apparently in frustration at bumbling a chance to score moments earlier. It was as blatant an intent to foul as you'll ever see, but Jol didn't even call a foul, much less show a card. This violence with impugnity must have gotten under the skin of the Ajax players, because they slowly receeded into more and more defensive and skittish play.

Nikos Machlas, starting for the second straight week, seemed to have earned a penalty in the 33rd minute, when he turned the ball past the last Utrecht defender in the box and was taken down. Again, Jol stupefied onlookers by allowing play to continue.

For the remainder of the rest of the first half, Ajax were the aggressors while Didulica settled into a more comfortable and less adventurous command of his area. John O'Brien, playing at central midfield, nearly scored his third of the season in the 40th minute, but his nicely turned shot slid just over the bar. If Ajax had been able to capitalize on any of the numerous chances they created late in the first half, the points may have been safe.

At the commencement of the second half, Jol made his presence felt once more, when a good long ball from O'Brien found Wamberto running up the left flank. The young Brazilian was rather blatantly tugged down by Vreven, but again, no call.

From there on, it was mostly Utrecht's game. Three deflections led to three second-half goals for the home side, who played with more intensity then their guests. They also benefited from Jol's unfathomable decisions.

In the 62nd minute, a long free kick by Stefaan Tanghe took a deflection on its way to goal, leaving little chance for Didulica: 1-1.

Then, just ten minutes later, a crossed ball took a deflection and wrong-footed an Ajax defender, whose meager half-clearance was converted into the go-ahead goal by Tom van Mol: 2-1 (73').

Finally, while Ajax pressed an all-out assault in search of the equalizer -- Zlatan having replaced Machlas while Mido was brought on for de Cler -- Utrecht took advantage with a well-organized counter-attack that left Ajax spread very thin. The final, killing blow came in the 86th minute, when a scramble in front of goal and another deflected shot from Arco Jochemsen made it 3-1.

Ajax defended well, and were a bit unlucky to surrender three goals coming from three deflections. Nevertheless, the Amsterdammers looked venomless in attack for most of the night, and Koeman still hasn't settled on a strike force yet. He now has a month to sift through his options and formulate a strategy for the second half of the season.

Ajax can try to enjoy the bragging rights of a first-place position during the Winter Break, thanks to the cancellation of Feyenoord's match at De Graafschaap. But the league-leaders must take note of the fact that the Rotterdammers now trail by just one point with a game in hand. Meanwhile, PSV made their case for title-contention by drubbing Groningen 8-0. (JM)

GOALS:

• :
• 7' 0-1 Andy Van der Meyde
• 62' 1-1 Stefaan Tanghe 1-1
• 73' 2-1 Tom van Mol 2-1
• 86' 3-1 Arco Jochemsen 3-1

Referee: Dick Jol
Yellow Cards: Vreven, Jochemsen, Tanghe (Utrecht); Van der Vaart (Ajax)
Attendance: 13,500

Utrecht line-up: Wapenaar; Vreven, Touzani, Zwaanswijk, Bosschaart, Tanghe, De Jong, Van Mol, Gluscevic (80' Schut), Kuyt, Van den Bergh (35' Jochemsen)

Ajax line-up: Didulica, Heitinga (56' Trabelsi), Bergdolmo, Chivu, De Cler (78' Mido), Yakubu, O'Brien, Van der Vaart, Van der Meyde, Machlas (73' Zlatan), Wamberto

Related Links:

• Discussion: Ajax current form
• Ajax.nl: Match report (in Dutch) with photos