23 DEC 2018; Utrecht - Ajax; Match Day 17

[Orange14]

After a dismal performance in Kerkade, Ajax are on the road again (cue up the Willie Nelson song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBN86y30Ufc ), with a very tricky fixture at Utrecht. I remember well the match several years ago when Vermeer had a horror show of a day and Ajax got trashed. This match will close out the first half of the season and Ajax has some hope of being top of the table as PSV also have an interesting fixture against AZ who seem to be coming back in form.

[rjf1]

Sad to say, AZ proved to be of no help -- going down by a score of 3-1 -- so this is another game where a win is crucial to just keep from falling further behind. Let's hope the boys are up to it.

[SPL]

No Tagliafico injured last sunday. Wober replaces him and Dolberg starts so Neres on the bench.This will be a hard game to win as we always struggle v Utrecht.

[SPL]

streams not working on cricfree or firstrow ,a repeat of Weds v Roda

[rjf1]

Quick counter by Ajax -- goalie at the mercy of Dolberg who gives a lateral pass to Blind -- Blind immediately returns it freezing the goalie, and Dolberg blasts it home from close range. Off to a good start!

[rjf1]

After a blistering opening we are now approaching 30 mins., and after coming close to a second a couple of times, the boys are definitely off the boil. Starting to get nervous now.

[Tom_]

Ordinary half although to be fair the conditions look tough. Will not be comfortable without a goal or two more.

[SPL]

My streams freezing so not sure how much I will see of the 2nd half ,probably only saw about 25 mins so far ,but saw the goal.

[rjf1]

From the 30 min on we kept playing slower and slower and Utrecht actually had a long spell of momentum as the half wound down.

The fact that the ref let them get away with murder didn't help things any -- two of the worst examples (among many others) was when, when Dolberg got wrestled to the ground on the edge of the box and got called for the foul (for allowing himself to be wrestled to the ground, no doubt); and later on a corner kick when he got knocked down and was, again, somehow, the responsible party.

[Orange14]

Far better play than in the Beker on Wednesday. MF is much quicker in decision making. Wonderful through pass by de Jong to Dolberg to get things started on the goal and Thor (isn't Dolberg looking more and more like the Marvel Superhero?) made sure of things with the shot. ten Hag was upset near the end of the half when a penalty was not called as Dolberg was taken down in the box on a corner. I'm really not sure why the play was called in Utrecht's favor as there can be no off sides on a corner and the ball did not go beyond the end line on the kick by Ziyech. Strange.

I keep forgetting how good this team is on defense compared to previous years. I'm not as anxious on free kicks these days (hope I don't eat my words). That being said, I would prefer a quick goal in the 2nd half.

[Tom_]

Strange situation, agree that it was a foul but if every incident like that is going to be reviewed, the game will last forever. Still don’t like waiting around for VAR.

[rjf1]

59th minute -- Dolberg gets hauled down in the box again -- after VAR consultation a penalty is awarded which Tadic dispatches in workmanlike fashion. 0-2

[Tom_]

PS the penalty incident at the corner in the first half was a goal kick, because Ziyech’s cross went over the line before coming back in. Not sure what the rule is if there is a foul in the box but the ball doesn’t come into play.

[rjf1]

My feed dropped out so I missed the Utrecht goal -- but it followed a period where our passing and speed of play had been deteriorating, so in a way it wasn't that surprising -- now to see if we can get back on track -- or at least hold out til the end.

[rjf1]

Typical Ajax -- breakaway all alone with the keeper to put the game on ice and we shoot straight at the goalie.

[Tom_]

Yeah, and we know what’s going to happen next

[Tom_]

Phew. Ground that one out but I’ll take that in Utrecht

[Ayman]

1-3 Frenkie

[rjf1]

And in the last minute Ziyech takes the ball down the right sideline with the majority of Utrecht caught upfield and passes to Frenkie waiting in the middle of the box who ends all suspense by putting the ball into the lower left hand corner. VAR confirms the goal was legit and the game is over. BTW, the 1-3 scoreline means we maintain parity with PSV in the goal difference standings.

[SPL]

We finally won at Utrecht ,I did actually see the goals live but really fed up as no stream working properly .( Cricfree and firstrow both good streams had about 8 links but the only tv channel showing was the Dutch one and it kept freezing on both sites )

Sinkgraven gave away their goal he did not cover their attacker and is not a left back.Thought they would get a 2nd but we got a 3rd to rub it in.

Need a rest now but so glad we finish the winter break with 1 defeat from 32 games and only 2 points behind PSV

[rjf1]

.....Need a rest now but so glad we finish the winter break with 1 defeat from 32 games and only 2 points behind PSV

Yup all we have to do now is win all our games in the second half of the season and we have it made.

[Orange14]

In a match filled with real fireworks, VAR decisions and hard play, Ajax go back to Amsterdam with a 3-1 victory. The curse of Utrecht is solved at least for know. The two Ajax goals from the run of play were quite pretty but questions have to be asked about the poor state of Utrecht defending. Kasper Dolberg, denied a penalty in the first half, gets the VAR decision in the second and Tadic doesn't miss from the spot. Other than the Utrecht goal, Ajax defending was quite decent with de Ligt getting to every ball in his area.

Ajax were poor on corners, maybe the slick surface bothered Schöne and Ziyech whose efforts were way wide of target men. Interesting that ten Hag did not have Schuurs on the game day bench and when Wöber picked up an early card, there was not an option to move Blind to the outside. Off until mid-January with some training and two friendlies in Florida coming up.

Player Ratings:

Onana (6.5) - had little to do in the first half and spend a couple of minutes dodging beer cups and a firework following the VAR penalty review; some poor kicking and one occasion where he seemed not to know what to do with a kick cross the goal

Wöber (6.5) - took a stupid Yellow Card in the first half on a late challenge but otherwise was OK filling in for an injured Tagliafico
Blind (7) - calm ball handling and decent defending marked his day
de Ligt (7.5) - don't know where he was on the Utrecht goal but otherwise was outstanding
Mazaoui (7) - good defending and managed to keep the right side open for attacking by Ajax
Schöne (6) - took some punishment on challenges but his free kicks were quite poor
de Jong (7.5) - great through pass to Dolberg to set up the first goal and a nice cap to the game with third goal
van de Beek (5.5) - seldom saw any of the ball
Tadic (7) - calmly slotted home the penalty after an interminable VAR decision
Thor (7) - solid match from our Marvel Superhero
Ziyech (7) - other than poor free kicks a very nice match
Sinkgraven (6) - on for a considerable period for the carded Wöber and played well at left back (his best position is still MF)

[Orange14]

PS the penalty incident at the corner in the first half was a goal kick, because Ziyech’s cross went over the line before coming back in. Not sure what the rule is if there is a foul in the box but the ball doesn’t come into play.

The replay that we had over here was inconclusive on whether the ball went out on the corner as the camera angle was poor. Have to rely on the assistant referee and assume he made the correct call.

[souras84]

It was the first time I wasn't anxious about us winning in Utrecht. Of course this happened after I saw the way we played in the first 15-20 minutes. Great result. The team looks very sure about themselves

[Tom_]

The replay that we had over here was inconclusive on whether the ball went out on the corner as the camera angle was poor. Have to rely on the assistant referee and assume he made the correct call.

Just for interest's sake, here's the VAR audio of the penalty moment. I learned something. The decision from Zeist was that Kerk let go of Dolberg before the corner was taken, therefore no foul. I didn't know that rule!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qkMzCnOHkA

And @Oranje is right, there's no way to tell if the ball was actually out from the angles in that video.