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Rosenborg
lineup: Arason, Olsen, Hoftun, Basma, Saarinen, Strand,
Skammelsrud, Berg, Karadas, Braatbakk, Frode Johnsen. Ajax
lineup: Didulica, Trabelsi, Chivu, Bergdølmo, Van Damme, Van Halst,
Witschge, Galásek, Wamberto, Ibrahimovich, Mido.
Ajax
went home without the three points they had ample opportunity to score and
which would have earned them the table topping position in their group. Sloppy finishing by
their strike-duo Mido and Ibrahimovich meant they left the stadium with
empty hands. During
theng quarter of an hour both teams were equally balanced with
Rosenborg looking the more threatening from corners while the visitors
slowly warmed to their task. Wamberto had the best
chance for Ajax shortly after in the 19th minute. The diminutive Brazilian
was Ajax's best striker in theng 30 minutes as the Amsterdammers
managed to contain the Rosenborg attacks without too much trouble while
failing to create many of their own. Finally Mido and Ibrahimovich began to
get into gear and in the 34th they had their best
opportunity in front of goal but Mido was judged offside. Only a minute
later Skammelsrud shot just over for the Norwegian side. Witschge had
a shot saved in the 37th as the Amsterdammers began to move the ball around
a bit faster and pressed forward. Mido had a great chance to push the ball
into the back of the net in the 40th but he was too slow. The Egyptian
striker served up an impressive pass to
Ibrahimovich in the 42nd which the young Swede took well, raced forward but blasted just
wide. Australian keeper Joey Didulica, in his European debut, grew in confidence as the half
progressed and it was a good thing as Rosenborg applied pressure close to the half-time whistle. Ajax could have been a couple
of goals up as they left for the dressing room but were let down by
less-than-perfect finishing in front of goal.
Koeman had some things to say to his team during the break and they came
out looking sharper. Ibrahimovich blasted just over in the 50th but, as the 2nd
half progressed, Ajax were again put under real pressure by the home team.
Koeman decided to replace Ibrahimovich, who'd been too sloppy too often, by
Van der Meyde and Van Halst by Winter. Witschge was also replaced by Maxwell
as the Amsterdammers tried to find that goal, but it just wasn't happening.
Ajax survived the 2nd half and a stormy closing quarter-of-an-hour without conceding a goal but Koeman will not be pleased with his team's performance,
though the
result could have been worse.
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