Resurgent Ajax pile it on against 10-man AZ
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1 (1) |
Eredivisie
Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam
Sunday, 13 Jan 2008
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So much of being a football fan is about hope. Hope of victory, hope of trophies, hope of attractive play, of Europe... Not every fan expects their team to win it all. But they all want the right to hope.
Today, Ajax gave their fans hope. Perhaps it's not entirely a realistic hope -- PSV looks to be a better team, all around, and the championship is probably still theirs to lose -- but football fans are not always realists, nor should they be.
Huntelaar's first goal was set up expertly by Perez. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
The difference in this Ajax team was apparent from the start. The return of Edgar Davids and Kenneth Perez seemed to boost a midfield that had played without energy or confidence against VVV, FC Twente and Excelsior in December.
Perez especially was instrumental in Ajax' success. The Dane was penciled into the right side of midfield, but in fact seemed to be everywhere, popping up on the left, the right, in defense and in attack. He had a hand in several of Ajax' best moments, including scoring a penalty which turned out to be the winner (2-1) and slotting in a perfect square pass that set up Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's decisive first goal, giving Ajax an insurmountable 3-1 lead after 60 minutes.
Of course, the Amsterdammers defense is still a house without foundation, and things did not start out so brilliantly. AZ were determined, and Louis van Gaal's side grabbed the early advantage after just five minutes, when some typically shaky Ajax defending allowed Ari to score after a frantic goal-mouth battle.
But even before that early flaw, Ajax were looking a better team. Better than AZ, perhaps, but more importantly much better than Ajax of the first half of the season. Most notably, Ajax were so much quicker and more confident on the ball. Possession favored them, and Ajax managed to create a hat-full of scoring chances throughout the game. The equalizer came after 23 minutes. A goal from Ajax had seemed likely, but the source was something of a surprise.
On an Ajax corner kick, Huntelaar seemed to have been pulled down right on top of the penalty spot. But before Ajax could even think about appealing to referee Roelof Luinge for a penalty, their Young Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen hopped on the weak clearance and slotted neatly home: 1-1.
Ajax played with increasing confidence and decisiveness, but the game would remain tied for most of the first half. However, Ajax continued to enjoy a constant string of corner kicks, which would prove decisive. A corner had led to the equalizer, and another would present Ajax with the opportunity that would turn the match inevitably to Ajax' favor.
That turning point came in the closing minutes of the first half, when Hutelaar's crisply struck header off a corner actually crossed the goal line before De Zeeuw, who was guarding the far post, reached out and knocked it back into play with his forearm. The correct decision would have been to let the goal stand, and to leave the AZ captain on the pitch. Instead, Luinge called for a penalty and sent off De Zeeuw. As the AZ players protested, Luinge conferred with his assistant on the near sideline, who somewhat suprisingly agreed with the center official's decision. Perez converted the penalty kick as perfectly as you would wish, and AZ were down 2-1 and would play with only ten for the entirety of the second half.
To their credit, despite being up a goal and a man, Ajax did not take their foot off the gas pedal. They played with aggression (partly evidenced by four yellow cards for the hosts), and with a swagger that has been sorely lacking in the ArenA this season. AZ put up a brave effort, even creating some decent chances for themselves. But when the decisive 3-1 came -- Perez' running onto a through ball on the right side and then feeding a square ball to Huntelaar, who expertly finished from 15 yards -- AZ were clearly finished.
The rest of the match was dedicated to extending Ajax' league-leading goal tally.
And let's not forget that it was only goal differential that allowed PSV to fall ass-backwards into the championship last season. We'll return to this point in a moment. But first, let's review the dance party that was the final 30 minutes of the match...
Just six minutes after Huntelaar's decisive goal, Ajax were again through on Boy Waterman's goal. Waterman came way out on the left side, leaving his goal unguarded. With Waterman out of the play, Suarez dribbled back across the top of the box before sliding the ball to Huntelaar. The goal was at his mercy, but Huntelaar's deft little chip rebounded off the crossbar. It fell at the feet of Kennedy Bakircioglu, who volleyed into the empty net from six yards out.
One of the nicest moments of the match came just a few moments later, and it wasn't even one of their six goals. Davids, who had played a solid but unremarkable match in his return from a broken leg, gave way to Leonardo, returning from major knee surgery. The ArenA was filled with a mixture of songs for both players.
Leonardo's joy is evident after scoring on his return from a devastating knee injury. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
Leonardo added to the sweetness of his return in the closing minutes... Suarez was again through on goal, and Waterman again came well out of his goal to confront him. This time, Suarez turned away from goal and then crossed perfectly to an unmarked Leonardo, who could not fail to head home into the empty net: 5-1. The Brazilian ran to the corner flag and then kissed his reconstructed right knee several times.
The last goal of the day was scored in the last minute of regulation time, by Huntelaar. 6-1. In the closing minutes, AZ were utterly deflated and barely trying to compete. Waterman's lazy pass from his own goal area, intended for Steinsson, went straight to the feet of Leonardo, who touched it to Huntelaar. The Ajax captain was unmarked and could take his time in slotting it past the AZ goalkeeper. Waterman could only hang his head.
Huntelaar enjoys his second -- and Ajax' sixth -- goal of the day. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
Luinge indicated three minutes of added time, but then stopped the match after just 24 seconds beyond regulation. The referee actually blew his whistle in the midst of another Ajax attack, when Bakircioglu's shot was on its way toward the goal. (The shot ended up sailing harmlessly over the top.) It seems as if Luinge had decided to 'be merciful' to AZ by blowing his whistle while the shot was still in the air. More importantly, Ajax had just scored two goals in the past three minutes, so there was every chance of more scoring in the added time.
Youtube: Video highlights.
And let's not forget that goal differential gave PSV the championship last season. There's simply no way Luinge would end the match prematurely if this were a close, evenly fought game. It was just the sort of biased, subjective instinct a referee must absolutely never indulge. (Jim McGough)
Goals:
- 05' 0-1 ‘Ari’ da Silva Ferreira
- 23' 1-1 Jan Vertonghen
- 43' 2-1 Kenneth Perez (penalty)
- 61' 3-1 Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
- 67' 4-1 Kennedy Bakirçioglü
- 87' 5-1 Leonardo Vitor Santiago
- 89' 6-1 Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Referee: Luinge
Yellow Cards: Stekelenburg, Heitinga, Vertonghen, Colin (Ajax); El Hamdaoui Augustien (AZ).
Red Cards: De Zeeuw (AZ, 44').
Attendance: 50,639
Lineups:
- Ajax line-up: Stekelenburg; De Jong (46. Colin), Heitinga, Vertonghen, Emanuelson; Gabri, Perez (82. Donald), Davids (69. Leonardo); Kennedy, Huntelaar, Suárez.
- AZ line-up: Waterman; Koenders (78. Steinsson), Mendes da Silva, Donk, Opdam (75. Poulsen); De Zeeuw, Vormer, El Hamdaoui, Pocognoli; Ari (46. Augustien), Dembele.
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