Ajax suffer first league defeat to strong NAC
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Eredivisie
Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam
Sunday, 02 Dec 2007
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Hedwiges Maduro's fine form has been overshadowed by Urby Emanuelson's collapse. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
With Sinterklaas not due to give out presents until December 5 here in the Netherlands, the Ajax team decided to make a gift of 3 points to NAC Breda by not bothering to turn up for this fixture, or that is what it appeared. On a bitterly cold and very wet today the Amsterdammers gave the impression that they would rather be at home with their feet up. You have to pity the poor souls who in despite of the miserable conditions turned up to watch this farce.
Despite having not performed to the expectations of their support throughout the season, Ajax were to go into this game unbeaten in the league and until the previous evening, leaders of the Eredivisie. This was to change in the 90 minutes fare served up as Ajax produced what can only be described as one of the most inept performances witnessed at the ArenA in many a long year.
Not one player in the Ajax team deserves pass marks as every player did not perform to a satisfactory level. Urby Emanuelson can only be described as having his worst game ever in the famous Ajax colours. For someone who looked so good when he first broke into the Ajax team he is rapidly going backwards.
On this showing Ajax have no strength in depth and the forthcoming January transfer window is going to be the most important one for the club in many years. At least 2 new defenders are required, a creative midfield player with the ability to carry the ball forward at pace and a wide player who actually knows how to cross a ball into the box are all urgently required.
Ajax actually started this game in a positive fashion and could have actually taken the lead in the 2nd minute when Luis Suarez was put clear but his effort was saved by Ten Rouwelaar in the NAC goal. A minute later Klaas Jan Huntelaar was nearly fed through by a defence splitting pass by Vertonghen. This was probably the best period of the match for Ajax.
NAC showed that they were not at the ArenA to make up the numbers in the 5th minute when Csaba Fehér had a great downward header saved spectacularly by Stekelenburg.
The team from Breda finally took the lead in the 25th minute when a low cross from the right was pushed high into the Ajax net by the unfortunate Vertonghen. It cannot be said that this was not a lead that NAC did not deserve.
Until this moment, Ajax had shown no real urgency or any attacks that were deserving of a goal. Passes were being mishit in all departments, tackles lost and headers going askew. This was to continue for the remainder of the 1st half and for near the entire 2nd half.
The half time whistle sounded with the visitors 1 up. Surely the 2nd half would serve better fare for the cold crowd in the ArenA. Whatever Koster said in the dressing room at half time seemed to have no effect at all. With the same 11 who started the game Ajax started the 2nd half as poorly as they played the entire 1st half. It was no surprise when Dennis Rommendahl came on for De Jong after 59 mins. Rommendahl who in recent matches has performed admirably when coming on as a substitute received a warm welcome from the crowd. Unfortunately he was unable to turn this match around.
NAC had most of the possession throughout this game and their midfield was able to control the match ensuring that Ajax were ineffective.
The best chance Ajax had in the 2nd half was in 69th minute when Luque was put through and seemed certain to make it 1-1 but his shot was blocked well by Ten Rouwelaar. The NAC goalkeeper hit a long kick out which John Heitinga should have dealt with easily but instead completely fluffed his pass back to Stekelenburg and gave Matthew Amoah the chance to increase NACs lead which he did with great aplomb.
Many in the ArenA showed their displeasure at the fare on show by leaving early, which was a little unfair on the Breda team who had actually performed very well. Their defence playing the offside trap very well, catching the very slow moving Ajax front line out on many occasions.
The day got worse for those who had remained behind in the stadium as NAC were to go 3 ahead when substitute Ahmed Ammi gathered the ball fully 40 yards out and was able to run unchallenged to the edge of the box where he hit an unstoppable shot in for the 3rd, sending the small band of NAC followers into ecstasy.
Huntelaar then scored his 50th goal in 61 appearances for the Amsterdam team. Unfortunately for Klaas this goal was scored in front of a nearly empty ArenA.
Suarez and Luque dispair at another lost opportunity. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
Game over and Ajax were 2nd in the league and their unbeaten record having been smashed to bits by a well organized and efficient Breda team.
"NAC made optimal use of our weak moments today", Ajax coach Adrie Koster said. "NAC played well themselves, too. All in all, this is a disappointing result. My team can do better, and we have shown that before. But apart from the first ten minutes, we were not really into it today. We simply had no grip on the match."
Oh how Adrie Koster must wish that on December 5 Sinterklaas will deliver 4 or 5 new players. And as for the players playing yesterday, a boot up the arse should be the only gift they should receive from the club this week. (Gordon Paterson)
Goals:
- Huntelaar (Ajax)25' 0-1 Jan Vertonghen
- 69' 0-2 Matthew Amoah
- 88' 0-3 Ahmed Ammi
- 90' 1-3 Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Referee: Blom
Yellow Cards: Huntelaar (Ajax)
Attendance: 47,588
Lineups:
- Ajax line-up: Stekelenburg; Ogararu, Heitinga, Vertonghen, Emanuelson; De Jong (58. Rommedahl), Gabri, Maduro, Luque; Huntelaar, Suárez (68. Bakircioglu).
- NAC Breda line-up: Ten Rouwelaar; Elshot, P. Zwaanswijk, Penders, Stam; Feher, Molhoek, Mtiliga, Amoah; Kolkka (85. Ammi), Lurling (90. Van Gessel).
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