Category: Sports

Hahahahaha! Own goal baby!

Aggregate 2-3.

This must be some kind of harsh justice placed upon Ajax by some kind of soccer god (tag) :

FC København defied the odds to overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit with a 2-0 win at AFC Ajax that earned them a place in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

An own goal from Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen proved to be the decider on the night as the Dutch side somehow conspired to lose a tie which always seemed poised in their favour.

There go millions of Euros.

Despite feeling obviously disappointed, Ajax doesn’t deserve to be in the Champions League. By last season’s standard, we should have been in the UEFA Cup, which we are currently now. AZ Alkmaar should have played this match instead of Ajax. But somehow, the KNVB screwed AZ last season.

Nonetheless, loss is a loss and we all should be sporting enough to admit to defeat. All the luck for FC Copenhagen.

After beating PSV 3-1 in the Johan Cruyff Shield match, Ajax is off to a flying start (tag). In its first 2006/07 Eredivisie match, Ajax slaughtered RKC Waalwijk 5-0.

The scorers – in order – are Babel, Sneijder, Heitinga, Sneijder again and Rosales.

Perhaps, the other goodness going on is the fact that Feyenoord was humiliated by Groningen 3-0. AZ on the hand started this season with a bang – they razed NAC to the ground with eight goals for and a goal against.

p/s – don’t make promises that you can’t keep. It hurts your reputation. But then, I suppose breaking promises in god’s name is okay, eh?

There was a time when the Amsterdam Arena was PSV’s second home – PSV totally dominated Ajax when the former played at Amsterdam (tag). Things have changed for the past few years; including this year. Ajax beat PSV Eindhoven 3-1 in this year’s Johan Cruyff Shield:

Twelve minutes later Wesley Sneijder made sure the Johan Cruyff Shield would remain at the Amsterdam ArenA with a superb individual goal. Sneijder intercepted the ball on the left flank, took it in and rocketed a superb 25-yard shot past the despairing Moens and into the top right corner of the net: 3-1, and ‘game over’.

Seeing Jaap Stam lifting the Shield with Ajax – instead of PSV – certainly needs some get-to-use-to. Whatever it is, this is starting to look like a good season.

Preliminary matches for the UEFA Champions League are underway and Ajax are on their way to the first stage (tag). Ajax’s first opponent is FC Copenhagen and Ajax won the first leg in Denmark 1-2, courtesy of the best purchase by Ajax in recent years – Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. That win gives Ajax the away goal advantage and all Ajax need to do now is to at least draw in Amsterdam.

I didn’t watch the game and I haven’t had the chance to watch the proper highlight of the game. Despite that, I’m somewhat happy to hear good reports on some players. With Jaap Stam in the team, it seems that Ajax have found their new Chivu. Or Frank de Boer if we want to go down farther down the line. Still, it’s Stam’s first competitive game with Ajax and it would be premature to praise him too much.

Babel seems fantastic as always. I’m convinced that he’ll gain a place in the first team soon. One of the reasons why I like Ajax is the fact that the team keeps chunning out unbelieveable talented player over and over again. People like Babel.

Rosenberg and Rosales still look good. Both are as good as the other; both are excellent wingers. I’m not sure about Kenneth Perez though. He’s Ajax’s new signing from AZ Alkmaar.

But the real person on trial here is Ajax’s new coach, Henk ten Cate. Remember, Henk ten Cate was Rijkaard’s assistant at FC Barcelona, the last season’s European Champion.

I do feel however that this season is the first time Ajax will have a stronger attacking force coupled with reliable defense for a full season in recent times. Ajax’s problem has always been converting possession into goals ever since Ibrahimovic left Ajax for that old hag Juventus. So, this is a promising season, both for Eredivisie and in the European arena.

Finally, the world restarts!

For the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League season, Ajax will play either FC Copenhagen or MyPa (tag). By reputation, FC Copenhagen should overcome MyPa. Regardless, I don’t think Ajax will have too much problem in handling either team.

Too bad that AC Milan will be playing in this Champions League season. They should have been banned from participating in the tournament. That ban should have stood. I have a feeling that AC Milan bribed the judges…