Entry of:16-09-99
EUROREVIEW
AJAX-DUKLA BANSKA BYSTRICA(SLW)
First game of Ajax in the UEFA-cup this year, they played Dukla Banska Bystrica from Slowakia and Wouters called it a team that could be compared to a team from the middle of the second division. Papers declared that the scores could go over the 10 goals. But of course they are always too optimistic and caution was logical.Not for defeat but temper of enthousiasm of the score that was predicted. Dukla Banska only rested the alternative of pure defensive, but they got their first goal through an own goal from Verlaat, a very strange situation, 0-1(14.). But Ajax prooved their superiority with Verlaat scoring from a penalt1y(26.) and Reuser doubling the goal to 2-1(26.) before halftime. After halftime Knopper and Machlas scored quickly in 48. and 50. minute.Dukla was powerless and allowed Machlas to score again in the 64th to 5-1 and Wamberto took the last goal for his account in the 72nd minute.Final score 6-1. It is true that Ajax won and will have no more trouble to reach the second round in 2 weeks. But it wasn't fully convincing. Witschge dropped some marvelous passes at Reuser and Reuser did no right to them, failing at every chance that came his way. In the final stage Ajax really should have given the audience the many goals they wanted to see, but the score stopped in the 72nd minute. The goals were not too spectacular mostly the fault of severe defense problems. Still for now it is satisfactory and it will still be quite a nice score when it travels to opponents all across Europe.An expected win, nothing more,nothing less.
Note for Ajax: 8
Other Dutch teams in European Cups:
Ajax won with the biggest score, they were 1 of the 3 Dutch clubs that represented Holland in the UEFA-cup. All three of them won. Vitesse beat Beira Mar in Portugal with 2-1 in a very sober game in which Vitesse should have gotten a higher score but it is not of big importance cause this will not stop them from getting in the 2nd round. Roda JC won at home from Shaktor Donetsk, the 2-0 could be safe, but in the Ukraine spooky things have happened, and Roda JC must really not underestimate the return-game in Donetsk.
What did go right in UEFA cup went wrong in the Champions League. All 3 Dutch clubs there could not win. Feyenoord getting a draw but deserving more against Borussia Dortmund 1-1. Rosenborg took the lead in poule C with a win over Boavista, but Feyenoord still has all possibilities in this poule. PSV did not win in and against Bayern Munich as was to be expected but they deserved a draw.They did not get one though. They resisted tough but got a 2-1 defeat as a reward. PSV will have severe difficulties in this poule F with Valencia and Glasgow Rangers. Valencia took the lead in this poule. Finally there was debuting team Willem II home against Spartak Moscow. It was obvious one step too high for Willem II. The Russian team that defeated Ajax 2 years ago in the Champions League won in Tilburg with 3-1.Willem II is now up to clear a very difficult task in a poule where the other two opponents Bordeaux and Sparta Prague also looked very strong in their draw which gave Spartak the lead.
Moment of the week:
Pure and total asshole-ism shown by Mattheus this week. Poor Mark van Bommel of PSV touched this real nasty figure who took the fall of a dying soldier, crying and putting a lot of dramatics in it. This man deserves a very ugly kick on his legs that will put him out of function permanently. It was a disgusting sight, giving the referee reason enough to give van Bommel the red card.
Willem ter Haar
(This week a Machlas-supporter and a Mattheus-hater)
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