Ten-man Ajax cling to goalless draw in Prague
0 (0) - 0 (0)
UEFA Cup, Group Stage
Toyota Arena, Prague, Czech Republic
Thursday, 23 November, 2006
After the two recent setbacks against PSV and FC Twente,
Ajax managed to grind out a single point in Prague, overcoming
the handicap of losing Urby Emanuelson before the break. Sparta
were seeking their first point in this year's UEFA Cup, while
Ajax were looking to assure a safe passage into the knock-out
stage of the competition. Both teams were after the points.
Ajax started the match with an unfamiliar strike force of
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Markus Rosenberg, almost showing as a
4-4-2 formation. It was evident that Ajax boss Henk ten Cate
was trying to make sure that the midfield was secure,
especially as Heitinga and Emanuelson were there to bolster the
presence of Gabri and Sneijder. Early exchanges were even, with
Matušovic going close after 3 minutes for Sparta, but
Ajax did not have a real chance until Jaap Stam's long-range
effort after 26 minutes.
The match seemed to be taking place in the middle of the
field, with Huntelaar and Rosenberg for Ajax, and Lustrinelli
and Kolar for Sparta, always seeming to be surrounded by so
many defenders that forward options were
limited. Gabri was the first Ajax player to be yellow
carded, followed by a brief attack in which Huntelaar twice
committed fouls, both unnecessary if his control had been
better. Stekelenburg was called on to make a save after 21
minutes when Pospech's goal bound shot was cleared for
a corner.
Huntelaar was paired with Rosenberg up front. [Photo:
Ajax.nl]
Huntelaar was yellow carded in the 29th minute for fouling
Drobny, mainly in despair due to the lack of opportunities on
goal being available. Emanuelson followed this with a
reckless challenge on Zabavnik after 31 minutes. The referee
now seemed to be freely punishing tackles, with Stam and
Sneijder going into the book after 34 minutes, the
first for a careless tackle on Repka. With four people
booked and playing on a sub-standard pitch, it was now evident
that Ajax had to work hard to achieve anything from the
game.
A more positive approach led to an Ajax attack on the Sparta
goal. Sneijder's effort went close after 35 minutes, this after
good link up work with Huntelaar. The midfield battle was even,
although Kisel and Heitinga seemed to be cancelling each other
out, the former being cautioned after 36 minutes after a rather
solid challenge. The midfield was still crowded until
Emanuelson's rash challenge on Pospech led to his second
yellow. Ajax were now down to ten men after 39 minutes.
Ten Cate had been ready to replace Emanuelson and said
afterwards: "Lindenbergh was ready to come on. Unfortunately,
we were five seconds too late. Urby did not fulfill his duties
tonight."
Urby Emanuelson leaves after his second yellow. [Photo:
Ajax.nl]
Ajax were now fighting an uphill battle. Huntelaar was
sacrificed after 40 minutes so that the midfield could be
maintained. This left Rosenberg playing on his own as a sole
attacker, chasing everything while being surrounded by
marauding defenders who gave him no time or chance. Just
before the break, Ajax had a brief chance after a Sneijder
effort rebounded off a defender, this causing Blažek to
make a smart save. The score at the break was 0-0; time for Ten
Cate to rally the troops and discuss tactical
possibilities.
The second half opened with Sparta making the most of their
one man advantage, with Kisel going close on two occasions, the
latter being well saved by Stekelenburg. In a rare attack,
Ogararu went close before Sparta pressed forward with shots
from Kadlec, Zabavnik and Pospech. In rare attacks on the
Sparta goal, Rosenberg was penalized three times in quick
succession due to his frustration in being a lone striker.
Tom De Mul battles along the touchline. [Photo:
Ajax.nl]
The midfield battle was still evident when Matušovic
was yellow carded in the 66th minute, just before Sparta's
Kadlec was replaced by Jun, and the tiring Rosenberg was
replaced by De Mul. The latter meant that there was
no longer a direct offensive force in the Ajax
team. A rare Ajax attack in the 80th minute led to
Sneijder delivering a free kick straight into the
defensive wall.
Sparta was now pressing at every
opportunity. Matušovic delivered a corner that
caused some concern, and a free kick which was on target but
easily saved by Stekelenburg. Two further efforts in
injury time from the Czechs lead to nothing as Ajax held on
gamely for their one-point reward. Ajax must now beat either
Espanyol, scorers of six last night, or Zulte-Waregem in order
to qualify for the knock-out stage of the
competition.
After the game, Ten Cate said: "The circumstances under
which we played were bad. We got very little opportunity to
play. This was a match in which little happened and was
definitely the worst match we have played so far."
Ajax fans will hope that this recent trio of disappointing
results can be reversed in Sunday's game against Sparta in
Rotterdam. (Ian Walker)
NO GOALS
Referee: Piccirillo (France)
Yellow cards: Kisel, Matusovic (AC
Sparta Paha), Gabri, Sneijder, Huntelaar (Ajax)
Red Card: Emanuelson (Ajax, 'double yellow',
40')
Attendance: 12,230
Ajax line-up: Stekelenburg; Ogararu,
Stam, Grygera, Vermaelen; Gabri, Heitinga, Sneijder
(92. Rosales), Emanuelson; Huntelaar (40. Lindenbergh),
Rosenberg (67. De Mul).
AC Sparta Praha line-up: Blazek;
Drobny, Kadlec (66. Jun), Repka, Zabavnik; Kisel (75.
Sylvestre), Kolar (84. Nádenícek), Pospech;
Sivok, Lustrinelli, Matusovic.
Group F Standings after Matchday
3
- RCD Espanyol: 2-6 (8-2)
- SV Zulte Waregem: 3-6 (9-8)
- Ajax: 2-4 (3-0)
- AC Sparta Praha: 3-1 (1-5)
- FK Austria Wien: 3-0 (1-7)
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