Unlucky Ajax lack finishing touch
By Brenz
September 14 2005
A very unlucky Ajax were held to a 1-1 draw in Prague tonight. The Amsterdam outfit dominated the game for long spells, they had many chances to kill Sparta Prague off, but a victory never materialised.
By Brenz
September 14 2005
A very unlucky Ajax were held to a 1-1 draw in Prague tonight. The Amsterdam outfit dominated the game for long spells, they had many chances to kill Sparta Prague off, but a victory never materialised.
Ajax started bright with some good positional play. The Dutch team dominated the first half with 70% ball possession. Sparta Prague concentrated only on defending and never combinated longer than 15 seconds.
Ajax had plenty of chances to break the deadlock in the first 45 minutes, but they lacked cutting edge, as they missed the target on many occassions.
Markus Rosenberg was very unlucky when he missed a sitter after a perfect cross from Steven Pienaar. Ryan Babel and Wesley Sneijder were both unlucky too with their efforts.
The second half started the same as the first ended, Ajax dominated for long spells and the Amsterdam outfit failed to convert their dominance into goals.
Suddenly Sparta Prague broke the deadlock after 66 minutes, when Miroslav Matusovic scored a belter from out of the box. The very undeserved lead for Sparta left Ajax in shock for some minutes but the Eredivisie runners-up came back very strong.
Hedwiges Maduro and Olaf Lindeberg pressed on the defence and Babel tried to force his way into the box at many occassions.
A goal, that should have been scored long before, did eventually became reality when Sneijder cancelled out Matusovic' opener during extra time. Another belter of a goal but this time it was Ajax who scored.
Ajax missed cutting edge during this game and maybe all season, with a formation that needs natural wingers, the Dutch giants play with a striker on the left (Babel) and a attacking midfielder on the right (Pienaar). I suggest Ajax to play natural wide players on those positions. They have Mitea and Rosales on their ranks, so why not use them?
Sparta Prague were very disappointing tonight with their anti-football. Their ultra defensive performance suggest they are not Champions League worthy. It's up to the Czech outfit to prove me wrong.
Sparta Prague - AFC Ajax 1-1
66. Matusovic 1-0
90. Sneijder 1-1
Bookings: Galasek (Ajax).
Line-up's:
Sparta Prague: Blazek; Lukas, Pospech, Kadlec, Petras; Polacek (79. Dosek), Sivok, Kisel, Selenka, Poborsky; Slepicka (49. Matusovic)
Ajax: Vonk; Trabelsi, Maduro, Grygera, Emanuelson; Galasek (90. Heitinga), Sneijder, Lindenberg; Pienaar (80. Rosales), Rosenberg (76. Charisteas), Babel
Ajax had plenty of chances to break the deadlock in the first 45 minutes, but they lacked cutting edge, as they missed the target on many occassions.
Markus Rosenberg was very unlucky when he missed a sitter after a perfect cross from Steven Pienaar. Ryan Babel and Wesley Sneijder were both unlucky too with their efforts.
The second half started the same as the first ended, Ajax dominated for long spells and the Amsterdam outfit failed to convert their dominance into goals.
Suddenly Sparta Prague broke the deadlock after 66 minutes, when Miroslav Matusovic scored a belter from out of the box. The very undeserved lead for Sparta left Ajax in shock for some minutes but the Eredivisie runners-up came back very strong.
Hedwiges Maduro and Olaf Lindeberg pressed on the defence and Babel tried to force his way into the box at many occassions.
A goal, that should have been scored long before, did eventually became reality when Sneijder cancelled out Matusovic' opener during extra time. Another belter of a goal but this time it was Ajax who scored.
Ajax missed cutting edge during this game and maybe all season, with a formation that needs natural wingers, the Dutch giants play with a striker on the left (Babel) and a attacking midfielder on the right (Pienaar). I suggest Ajax to play natural wide players on those positions. They have Mitea and Rosales on their ranks, so why not use them?
Sparta Prague were very disappointing tonight with their anti-football. Their ultra defensive performance suggest they are not Champions League worthy. It's up to the Czech outfit to prove me wrong.
Sparta Prague - AFC Ajax 1-1
66. Matusovic 1-0
90. Sneijder 1-1
Bookings: Galasek (Ajax).
Line-up's:
Sparta Prague: Blazek; Lukas, Pospech, Kadlec, Petras; Polacek (79. Dosek), Sivok, Kisel, Selenka, Poborsky; Slepicka (49. Matusovic)
Ajax: Vonk; Trabelsi, Maduro, Grygera, Emanuelson; Galasek (90. Heitinga), Sneijder, Lindenberg; Pienaar (80. Rosales), Rosenberg (76. Charisteas), Babel
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