Ajax
lineup: Joey Didulica, Hatem Trabelsi, Christian Chivu,
Abubakari Yakubu, Jelle van Damme, Tomas Galasek, Richard Witschge,
Steven Pienaar, Victor Sikora, Zlatan
Ibrahimovic.
NAC lineup:Gabor Babos, Csaba Feher,
Rob Penders, Mark Schenning, Nebojsa Gudelj, Earnest Stewart, Alfred
Schreuder, Jurgen Colin, Igor Korneev, Orlando Engelaar, Kevin Bobson.
Ajax got off to an absolutely disastrous start
this afternoon and can count themselves lucky to have earned themselves a
point out of this match. There were major changes made by Ronald Koeman to
his lineup with Steven Pienaar starting in midfield alongside Richard
Witschge, Sikora and Boukhari on the wings and no Jari Litmanen! A Trabelsi
blunder allowed Kevin Bobson, on loan to NAC from Ajax, to put the visitors
head after only 3 minutes. An equally incredible defensive slipup by the
Tunisian defender allowed Amrican international Earnest Stewart to increase
the Breda side's lead in the 21st. Mido was brought on for Yakubu later on
in the half and Van der Meyde for Sikora to inject some energy into a
lethargic looking frontline and later Chivu departed with a worrying injury
to be replaced by Johnny Heitinga. Some very unhappy fans whistled their
team into the dressing-room at halftime. Koeman gave his lineup a good
talking to and Ajax reemerged with a better attitude, Zlatan
Ibrahimovic finally slotting home a simple goal in the 47th and Mido scoring
a fine goal in the 56th from a Zlatan pass. A lot of stoppages disrupted the
flow of play from then on and the Amsterdammers lost their momentum. In fact
they were lucky that NAC substitutes Boussaboun and Van den Eede weren't a
bit sharper or else they'd have dropped 3 points.
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