Central European League 2012/2013 - Division One, Week Five
Blind Opens Ajax Eyes
Ajax
5 - 1 De Graafschap
Ajax Goalscorers: De Jong, De Ridder, Sneijder, Pienaar, Rivaldo.
De Graafschap Goalscorer: Al-Qahtani.
Not only was it a matter of sweet revenge for Ajax this afternoon, it was also a milestone in the progress that Ajax are making as a club under new coach Danny Blind.
Back in March, De Graafschap came to the Amsterdam Arena and humbled the home side in a shock 1-4 defeat that proved to be Ronald Koeman's last game in charge. It marked a low point during a long period of unrest for Ajax fans as the team continually underperformed. Six months on and it's a different story. Under former Dutch international Danny Blind, Ajax look revitalised and refreshed for a better campaign this time around, renewing hope that the sleeping giants can be back up there challenging for honours.
The match itself started explosively. Just sixty seconds gone and Morten Henriksen's careless trip granted an early penalty to Ajax, which was tucked away calmly by fullback Nigel De Jong. De Graafschap struck back quickly, however, when Bas Sibum released Jory ten Brinke down the right and his cut-back from the byline was converted accurately by Yasser Al-Qahtani.
The visitors then had a good period of possession, with the wide movement of Al-Qahtani and Anouar Diba providing passing options for new signing Loránd Miriuta, a young Hungarian playmaker picked up from Budapest Honvéd FC in the summer. The second half was a different story. Ajax emerged from the half-time break somehow enforced by Blind's teamtalk and proceeded to dominate the rest of the match.
The home side blew their opponents away with a fearsome display of firepower. De Ridder started it off with a ferocious volley that beat Zoetebier at his near post, and this was followed up minutes later by Wesley Sneijder's trademark twenty-yard rocket. Substitute Pienaar made it four when he headed home the rebound from Rafael van der Vaart's effort, then there was still time for Brazilian teenage sensation Jesús Da Silva Rivaldo to complete the rout with a right-foot volley from the edge of the box. It was the nineteen year old's third goal for the club following his transfer from Corinthians in the summer; he already looks like a future star.
The victory leaves Ajax hot on the heels of French duo Lyon and PSG at the top of the table after five matches, whereas De Graafschap, who finished 11th last season, suffered their heaviest ever defeat in Division One and find themselves in 15th place with only a single point to their name.
Next week's trip to reigning champions Bayern Munich should provide Ajax with a real test to show how far they have improved.
To make matters worse for De Graafschap, the surprise exclusion of Hérita Ilunga from the teamsheet today further fuels speculation that the unsettled Congo international wants out of Doetchinem. His contract expires at the end of this season and he is already being linked with moves away, either during the January transfer window or via the bosman ruling next summer.
