AZ got deserved point against Ajax
Published on 15 oktober 11, 00:00With four points more than runners-up PSV and FC Twente it was always clear that AZ would stay on top after this weekend. However, a win over Ajax would have resulted in a nine points lead on last years Eredivisie champion.
AZ did exactly what Gertjan Verbeek had said on the press conference before the match: they did not let Ajax have the ball by putting them under lots of pressure and not letting them get in their game. Within twenty minutes it resulted in a 0-2 lead. Brett Holman got the ball from Simon Poulsen and his deflected shot flew into the net: 0-1.
Brilliant Holman was on the basis of the second goal as well. The Australian international saw Roy Beerens rush on the right and the winger beat goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer with a neat chip: 0-2. Ajax was dangerous when Pontus Wernbloom hit the crossbar above his own goalkeeper and Derk Boerrigter hit the crossbar as well.
Shortly into the second half Ajax got a disputable penalty when Dirk Marcellis fouled Boerrigter on the edge of the penalty area. Miralem Sulejmani brought Ajax back in the game: 1-2. Ajax dominated but the best opportunity was for AZ when Charlison Benschop was sent away by Adam Maher but saw Toby Alderweireld save his effort on the goal line.
With ten men Eyong Enoh got his second booking Ajax kept searching for the equalizer and found it when Theo Janssen fired a low shot behind AZ goalkeeper Esteban: 2-2. In injury time Benschop got another good chance to give AZ victory but missed.
Lineup Ajax: Kenneth Vermeer (68: Jasper Cillissen); Toby Alderweireld, André Ooijer (46. Ruben Ligeon), Jan Vertonghen, Vurnon Anita; Eyong Enoh, Christian Eriksen (80. Dmitry Bulykin), Theo Janssen; Miralem Sulejmani, Siem de Jong, Derk Boerrigter.
Lineup AZ: Esteban; Dirk Marcellis, Niklas Moisander, Nick Viergever (81. Ragnar Klavan), Simon Poulsen; Pontus Wernbloom, Rasmus Elm, Adam Maher; Roy Beerens, Jozy Altidore (72. Charlison Benschop), Brett Holman (52. Johann Berg Gudmundsson).
Goals: 14. Holman 0-1, 22. Beerens 0-2, 47. Sulejmani 1-2 (pen), 82. Janssen 2-2.
Bookings: Ooijer, Janssen, Anita (Ajax), Moisander, Holman, Maher (AZ)
Sent-off: Enoh (70e minuut, 2x geel)
Referee: Kuipers
Attendance: 51.585