Missed opportunity; Ajax draw in Nijmegen 1-1
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Eredivisie
De Goffert, Nijmegen
Sunday, 20 Jan 2008
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Ajax headed into this game in Nijmegen against NEC on the back of a very indifferent week. Last Sunday they produced their most clinical game of the season when scoring 6 against AZ Alkmaar at the Amsterdam ArenA, but their frailty in defense was highlighted midweek in the KNVB Cup where they succumbed 4-1 to a determined NAC Breda.
With Feyenoord losing the previous evening to Excelsior, the Amsterdammers now had a chance to put a bit of breathing space between themselves and one of the challengers for the Eredivisie title. But once again Ajax failed to capitalize on this opportunity, fortunate to return to Amsterdam with the one point. With PSV also dropping a point today the Eredivise is no longer just a three horse race, as both Groningen and Twente Enschede are now within 4 points of PSV at the top of the league.
Ajax started the game with a 4-3-3 formation. The 4 man defense named was enough to give even the most optimistic of Ajax fans heart palpitations, consisting of the much maligned threesome of Ogararu, Colin and Emanuelson together with the inexperienced but vastly improving Vertonghen. With a defence like this, surely Coach Koster would play a four man midfield. But no; he instead stuck with the threesome of Perez, Gabri and Davids. This left Huntelaar, Suarez and Kennedy in their normal place as the front three.
Davids. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
This lack of cover for the defense was apparent throughout the first half as Ajax were extremely fortunate to go in at half time only one goal down. NEC tore Ajax apart for most of the first half. As early as the 4th minute, NEC created a scoring opportunity with Pothuizen bringing a save from Stekelenburg. NEC took the lead 12 minutes later when Jeremain Lens gathered the ball on the left hand side of the Ajax half and took the ball forward unchallenged to the edge of the box. Lens then hit a dipping shot which flew past Stekelenburg.
One down and surely it could not get any worse. Luckily for Ajax this was to be the case, as in spite of near total NEC domination, no further goals were conceded in the first half. In fact Ajax nearly equalized on the stroke of half time when Suarez forced Babos in the NEC goal to make a fine save.
After the game, Koster said "We began way too softly and I don't know why. I thought that wouldn't happen to us again, after the loss against NAC. But we did. Too many players stayed below their level." An understatement if ever there was one.
At half time, Siem De Jong was brought on for Ogararu, with Rommendahl replacing Kennedy up front. This appeared to bring dividends for Ajax as Huntelaar nearly equalized within two minutes of the kick off. The second half, it has to be said, was a highly entertaining affair with both teams creating chances which could have won the game.
Huntelaar's goal equalized the scoreline. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
And 10 minutes later after superb play by Perez, Huntelaar slid in only to see his effort sent past the post by the combination of the NEC defence and goalkeeper.
But still questions have to be asked of not only the Ajax defense but also the defensive qualities of the midfield. The role of the midfield is not only to create chances for the forwards but to protect the defense, especially an under-fire defence such as the Ajax one. And it has to be said the current Ajax midfield is failing in this respect. A perfect example of this occurred in the 67th minute of the game when Gabri needlessly gave the ball away in midfield leaving the Ajax defense completely exposed to the charging NEC forwards. Once again, Stekelenburg came to Ajax's defense with a magnificent stop from Bobson, which in all honesty the forward should have scored. It has been said that Ajax need to buy defenders during the current transfer season but surely a solid defensive midfielder is also required.
Leonardo then replaced the tiring Davids. And at the 70th minute he nearly scored the equalizer. Huntelaar gathered the ball and found himself faced with three NEC defenders, but then pulled the ball down to the left hand side of the box and fired in a great cross which Leonardo got his toe to. Somehow Babos in the NEC goal managed dive down to turn the Brazilian's shot past the post.
With just over fifteen minutes left on the clock Ajax finally got the equalizer. A misplaced pass from the NEC defender, Vadocz, was seized on by Perez who played a perfect pass for the on-running Huntelaar who expertly slid the ball past Babos.
One all and all to play for. Both teams had their chances but it was Ajax who thought they had won the game when Suarez volleyed the ball home after a great Rommendahl pass, but the goal was dis-allowed after Suarez was correctly adjudged to be offside by the near side assistant referee.
Game over and as Koster correctly stated "We even had chances to win it, but so did NEC." But considering that both PSV and Feyenoord also stumbled, this should be seen as an opportunity lost. (Gordon Paterson)
Goals:
Referee: Jol
Yellow Cards: Gabri (Ajax); Nalbantoglu (NEC).
Attendance: 12,400
Lineups:
- Ajax line-up: Stekelenburg; Colin, Emanuelson, Ogararu (46. De Jong), Vertonghen; Davids (61. Leonardo), Gabri, Perez; Kennedy (46. Rommedahl), Huntelaar, Suárez.
- NEC line-up: Babos; Drost, Nalbantoglu, Pothuizen, Wisgerhof; El-Akchaoui, Sibum, Vadocz; Bobson (68. Worm), Holman (81. Janssen), Lens.
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