Ajax's first game of football in 2008 is a friendly in Dubai, against Inter. The result will determine whom they'll play in the second game on Jan 7th.

It's a very lucrative little tournament for the club, by the way: I read that the winners will get a million dollars, the losers $300,000.

K.

Ajax are taking 25 players.Davids VdWeil and Vermaelen all going.

Players not going Anita Manucharyan Delorge all injured, Sarpong I assume working with the Jong Ajax at present and Krohn-Dehli no reason, he did miss Excelsior game with minor injury !!

If we don´t lose 5-0 I´ll be happy

most important : let's make sure they don't take any of our players

Here's the official website of the tournament...

http://www.dubaicup.ae/index.php

Official name of the tournament is the Mohammed bin Rashid International Football Championship. Or simply the Dubai Cup.

That stadium doesn't look too bad... Wow.

K.

Man not inter (milan) again i thought we were going to play the other Inter (Porto Alegre) first. I hope we play them in the second round that would a very good chance to scout some young brazilian talent.

Forgot your glasses, Ko? How could you miss that horrible running track between the stands and the pitch?

The grass seems in better shape than in Amsterdam though... (It's not a real picture anyway).

The latest from Dubai...

According to the website of De Telegraaf, Adrie Koster wanted to start with his strongest possible line-up, including a midfield of Gabri, Perez and Davids. Davids will, according to the reports, see his first 30 minutes of competitive action since he broke his shinbone in pre-season.

Koster may have to change his plan, by the way. According to the latest reports, Gabri is suspended in Dubai, because he was sent off during the Amsterdam Tournament in August...

Finally: Ajax and Inter play for a slot in the final of the tournament, in which Nacional will be the opponent. The Brazilians beat VfB Stuttgart in the first match today: 1-0, on a single goal from Alex.

Edit: the line-ups are now confirmed...

Ajax: Stekelenburg; Ogararu, Heitinga, Vertonghen; Donald, Maduro, Perez, Davids; Kennedy, Huntelaar, Suárez.

Inter: Alfonso; Rivas, Burdisso, Chivu, Maxwell; Pelè, Cambiasso, Solari; Siligardi, Cruz, Suazo.

K.

From Ajax Netwerk...

There were not too many dangerous moments in the opening phase. After fifteen minutes Inter opened the scoring. Julio Cruz controlled the ball and, in spite of the fact that he was marked by the Ajax defense, managed the fire the ball past Stekelenburg. Less than two minutes later Ajax equalized. Kenneth Perez nicely turned away from the defense on the edge of the box and fired home in the far top corner.

Score after 27 minutes: 1-1.

K.

Half-time score: 1-1.

I'm not watching, but from what I've heard Ajax are the better side. After Perez's goal, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar had a good chance after 25 minutes.

As planned, Edgar Davids was taken off after 30 minutes. He was Ajax's captain. Urby Emanuelson replaced him.

Welcome back, Edgar. Welcome back, Kenneth.

K.

Half Time 1-1. Looking hopeful.....but still need some defenders!!!

Inter seem to be missing sitters at the moment!

It's like looking at a knife slicing through butter at the back!!!

Tighten up!!!!!!

Our defence in first 8 min of second half is tragic

55 mins....Heitinga YELLOW CARD!!! What a challenge!!!

penalty - Suarez brought down.

GOAL!!!!!!

2 - 1 UP!!!

Oh yes!
Heitinga converts penalty after a nice present by Inter Goalie.
2-1 63'

SHIT!!

2 - 2 ,,,where was the defence????

Cruz 67 mins. Him..against 6 defenders!!!!

70 mins..

Leonardo...round the keeper......MISS!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your reports, Ian.

Score: 2-2, with less than fifteen minutes left to play, I think.

There's been a good handful of subs...

Stekelenburg; Ogararu, Heitinga, Vertonghen; Donald (46. Schilder [??. Jan Arie van der Heijden]), Perez (46. Rommedahl), Davids (33. Emanuelson);
Kennedy, Huntelaar (46. Leonardo), Suarez.

Robbert Schilder was brought on after the break, but picked up an injury and had to be replaced again.

K.

2-2 after 90 minutes.

It's PENALTIES!!!

No extra time? Pennos straight away?

K.

Ajax to take first.

Van der Heyden (Miss) 0 - 0
Cruz (Scores) 0 - 1
Suarez (Scores) 1 - 1
Barotelli (Scores) 1 - 2
De Jong (Scores) 2 - 2
Chivu (MISS) 2 - 2
Kennedy (MISS) 2 - 2
????????? (Scores) 3 - 2
Heitinga (MISS) 3 - 2

Inter win 3 -2 on penalties ..............BAD LUCK!!!!

it has been a good display from ajax and hopefully with perez and davids back plus 1 or 2 signings things can only get better.

Ech.. Still a good game