28 SEP 2019; Ajax - Groningen; Match Day 8

[Orange14]

Following what turned out to be a comfortable win over Fortuna Sittard, Ajax turn right around in two days and face Groningen in a home match this Saturday. Groningen have started slow out of the gate already having lost four matches with only two wins. There are several former Ajax players on the roster but on loan striker Kaj Serhuis was absent from the match with PSV the other day (don't know if he is injured).

[rjf1]

Yet another match that starts in the middle of the night in my time zone. Time was when I could stay up all night and think nothing of it, but since I've entered geezerhood, I can't get away with it anymore - I think I've only watched three games so far, and this is another one that I'm going to have to settle for reading the comments and watching the highlights... Looking forward to good news in the morning. Hup Ajax.

[souras84]

An interesting starting 11 from ETH. A bit more offensive than usual (as if we're defensive).

Onana
Mazraoui, Veltman, Blind, Tagliafico
Van de Beek, Promes, Martínez
Ziyech, Tadic, Neres

Valencia won (stole another game) earlier against Bilbao 0-1

[Orange14]

Just like the last couple of games, lots of good possession and nothing comes of it. Ajax conceded two troubling break aways but Onana saved one and the other was a wild shot. Goals should come in the 2nd half.

[SPL]

Not much else to say , hope like Sittard we start scoring in the 2nd half.

[SPL]

Groningen made it hard for us but great goal by Martinez to break the deadlock. KJH did what he nearly always does ,put the ball simply in the net.

[Orange14]

Ajax thoroughly dominated the match as Groningen opted to drop 9 men deep to defend. Though Ajax were passing the ball well, they found it difficult to put any of the 32 shots on frame. It took a time wasting YC on former Ajax youth Django Wammerdam, his second of the match and then sent off, to get Ajax untracked. A very nice strike by Martinez was the match winner and Huntelaar off a nice pass from van de Beek added the insurance. Ajax will face a double bank defense in most of the their upcoming league matches as it's the only way teams can keep this attack under control. Off to Spain now for the Wednesday CL game in Valencia.

Player Ratings:

Onana (7) - not much to do but watch and then react when one of the two counters came his way; he had to make a save on one and watch the other sky over the frame
Taliafico (7) - feisty match and pushed way up the pitch
Blind (7) - another fine match
Veltman (7) - a little too high up the pitch on the first Groningen break
Mazraoui (7) - good to see him back playing and decent before tiring and coming off
Martinez (7.5) - nice shot for the match winner and generally controlled the deep MF
van de Beek (7) - played a little deeper with Promes also in the MF, very nice assist on the Huntelaar goal
Promes (7) - had some shots but they were always a shade off the frame
Ziyech (7) - all over the pitch with a couple of good shots on goal
Tadic (7) - generally good but couldn't hook up through the congested back line
Neres (6) - not impactful on the night
Huntelaar (6.5) - nicely taken goal and had a couple of headers that didn't pose a problem
Dest (6.5) - lots of speed coming in for the last 20 minutes and started the passing that led to the 2nd goal
de Jong (NR) - on late for Tadic

[Amol]

Only caught the last 20 minutes of the game. Screamed out when Martinez scored that beauty!

[Cruijff]

There are several former Ajax players on the roster but on loan striker Kaj Sierhuis was absent from the match with PSV the other day (don't know if he is injured).

Sierhuis is injured.