Ajax - FC Utrecht: 0-2
2012-02-05 14:32:12Jan Wouters’ squad stepped onto the pitch in a completely black away match outfit in the Arena. FC Utrecht started the first half strong by putting pressure on the Ajax defence. The first opportunity was for Alexander Gerndt in the third minute. After an unsuccessful shot by Duplan the ball ended up with the Swedish striker via an Ajax defender. He shot the ball beside keeper Vermeer’s goal. Also the second chance was for Gerndt. His long shot, however, did not find the goal.
The first really dangerous moment for the players from Amsterdam was when Theo Janssen managed his way through the Utrecht defence assisted by De Jong and Eriksen. Fernández acted alertly and blocked the ball that was finally cleared away by Kali. During the first fifteen minutes FC Utrecht were clearly the stronger team. If Ajax had any dangerous moments then they came from passes from Özbiliz on the right side. After thirty minutes Ajax created one of the most dangerous moments. After a dubious foul by Asare, Theo Jansen took his place behind the ball. From twenty metres Jansen shot the ball over the goal, buzzing the top side of the net.
Though an Ajax lead was brewing because Utrecht lost the forward pressure, the 0-1 was scored five minutes before half time. After a pass by Gerndt from the left side, Vermeer cleared away the ball. Duplan, the player in the selection who had scored against Ajax by far the most, kept his cool and netted the ball. With that score the two teams reached half-time.
Second half
In the second half Ajax increased the pressure right from the start. But that did not result in any big chances. After more than an hour Rodney Sneijder had a big chance. The midfielder from Utrecht was given a pass at twenty metres from the Ajax goal. His shot, however, went way over.
In the 67th minute FC Utrecht were in a tight spot. Everyone assumed that goalkeeper Fernández was going to catch the ball. De Jong, however, picked up the ball, but his shot was stopped in the goalmouth. In the second instance Ebecilio aimed at goal, but now the ball was a secure catch for the Utrecht goalkeeper. Two minutes later Gerndt had a big chance. He was too much in a hurry and shot the ball over. Whereas Ajax performed poorly in the offensive, FC Utrecht managed to create opportunities. Gerndt and Duplan managed to get near the opponent’s goal.
0-2
In the 78th minute Duplan scored 0-2. Gerndt gave a nice crossball to Demouge. Demouge saw that Duplan was completely unmarked on the right. He took a swipe at the ball and doubled the lead. The battle-weary Frank Demouge was then substituted by Lars Veldwijk. The Young FC Utrecht striker made his first appearance in the main team. With five more minutes to go De Jong shot a free kick into the wall. The ball ended up at Bulykin’s feet and he took a swing. Fernández did not have any problems to stop the ball.
With the 0-2 victory FC Utrecht repeated the difficult feat that Feijenoord pulled off before. Just as the players from Rotterdam did in the sixties, FC Utrecht beat Ajax four times in a row.
“Well-deserved”
Trainer Jan Wouters said after the match that Utrecht had not given away anything. “Ajax were the better players, but it is a well-deserved victory for us. Especially in this phase this is an important victory."
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Danny Makkelie
Yellow cards: Demouge (‘42), Ebicilio (’50), Van der Maarel (‘53), Kali (’70), Fernández (‘86), Sulejmani (‘90) and Schut (’90).
Line-up FC Utrecht:
Fernández, Van der Maarel, Schut, Wuytens, Bulthuis, Duplan, Sneijder (‘90+2), Asare, Kali, Gerndt, Demouge (‘83 Veldwijk).
Line-up Ajax: Vermeer, Anita, Van Rhijn, Blind (’78 Bulykin), Koppers, Eriksen, Enoh, Janssen (’ 45 Lodeiro), Özbiliz, De Jong, Ebicilio (’70 Sulejmani).
