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Ajax lose to Manchester United
Date: 06-08-2006 07:50
Ajax did not succeed in giving the second half of Friday's match against Inter a proper continuation. In the second match of the LG Amsterdam Tournament, Manchester United were too strong: 0-1. But there were mitigating circumstances for Ajax. With the match against FC Kopenhagen only four days away, coach Henk ten Cate rested five of his regular starters.
From the starters against Inter (1-1), only Jan Vertonghen, Kenneth Perez and Maarten Stekelenburg remained. It was Ten Cate's way of saying that everything is focussed on Wednesday, when Ajax face FC Copenhagen in the qualifying round of the Champions League.
Nonetheless Ajax and Manchester United made it an exciting first half. With thanks to Ryan Giggs, who was the most dangerous player on the pitch. Twice he fired in a free kick, but twice the ball hit the bar and post.
Ajax could not create that many chances. John Heitinga put the ball in the net, but was ruled offside. After halftime, Thomas Vermaelen, Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Kenneth Vermeer came on for Jan Vertonghen, Edgar Manucharyan and Maarten Stekelenburg. That gave Ajax an impulse. Vermaelen made his presence known quickly, when the Belgian defender headed the ball in from a corner kick. Edwin van der Sar showed why he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and saved his team with a cat-like reflex.
Minutes later he did it again. Ajax were given a penalty after Hedwiges Maduro had been brought down. Huntelaar took the spot kick and Van der Sar saved it.Read entire article...
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Group One Duel to death for top two
Date: 30-07-2006 11:46
The Czech Republic and the Netherlands continued their tit-for-tat battle for Group One supremacy as both cruised to wins on Wednesday. Jan Koller was the chief architect of the Czechs' 6-1 win over Macedonia to send his side top, only for the Dutch to later beat Finland 4-0 and leapfrog them.
However, the introduction of Hedwiges Maduro and Van Persie for the last quarter gave them a new impetus.
Van Persie, on for Van Nistelrooy in the 75th minute, linked well with Arjen Robben and Dirk Kuijt two minutes later to present Kuijt with an open goal.Read entire article...
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