16 MAR 2017 Ajax - FC Copenhagen Europa League

[Ayman]

Ladies and gentlemen get the popcorn out! Boilesen is now on! LOL

[Tom_]

FFS Traoré!

[souras84]

OMG Dolberg strikes the post!!! Talking about a nailbiter!!!!!

[Tom_]

This is killing me! All over them but it's still on a knife edge

[Ayman]

Schone booked misses the next game as per uefa.com website

[Ayman]

It's 2007 in reverse! Ajax are through to the quarter finals. (I get the feeling our next opponents will be Belgians). I hope it's not Anderlecht! They are looking good.

[Tom_]

Phew. That was a crazy last 15'. Fox commentator completely lost it :)

[souras84]

So, who's to replace Schone?

[SPL]

Exhausting. We were the better side ,would have been better had we got that 3rd but we are through . Schone got a silly yellow for kicking the ball away and Onana for time wasting .Schone did seem to be running everywhere tonight and in defence de Ligt was always cool. Tete played well,still think he is superior to Veltman at RB.

Still crazy we keep a12m signing on the bench and throw on a17 year old.

[Ayman]

Since joining this forum in 2005, I can't remember Ajax qualifying for the quarter finals! Look back at the number of disappointing results! Finally we made it.

[souras84]

You're right! We haven't been in the final 8 since... 2002-2003 under Koeman. Indeed we should have made it easier for ourselves

[Amol]

Since joining this forum in 2005, I can't remember Ajax qualifying for the quarter finals! Look back at the number of disappointing results! Finally we made it.

We're through!!!

I missed seeing the game but was checking updates every 2 minutes and was going nuts.

Thanks Orange14 - I'm now going to watch the replay on espn3.

[Ayman]

Since joining this forum in 2005, I can't remember Ajax qualifying for the quarter finals! Look back at the number of disappointing results! Finally we made it.

We're through!!!

I missed seeing the game but was checking updates every 2 minutes and was going nuts.

I know right! I'm praying we avoid Man Utd, Lyon or Anderlecht. My first choice is Beskitas, second Genk, third Schalke, forth Celta Vigo.

[Orange14]

Some fine second half football but oh my goodness, what woeful finishing. By all rights Ajax should have had 3-4 more goals and not made us bite fingernails waiting for the final whistle to blow. On to the next round and it looks like only ManU stands in the way of Ajax winning the Europa League (a supporter always has hope!!!). Defense was OK, though Sanchez had some very dicey moments which is unusual. Tete again showed that Overmars made a colossal error in not extending his contract last season and Bosz made a bigger error by continuing to sit him in favor of Veltman who is just not a RB. Some really silly fouls committed and Schöne is out for the next match.

Player Ratings:

Onana (6.5) - had to do a lot of kicking as Ajax could not deal well with the pressing in the first half
Viergever (8) - best game of all the players on the pitch; defended well and made some great runs
de Ligt (7) - solid game and never got caught close to the goal by the stronger Copenhagen forwards
Sanchez (6) - really had some bad positional play at times
Veltman (5) - strained a muscle on a challenge and came off early on
Schöne (6) - OK match but he doesn't shield the ball as well as is needed for a holding MF
van de Beek (6) - more than decent subbing for el Capitan who was watching with his girlfriend from the stands
Ziyech (5) - I'm in a charitable mood today with this rating; he had a couple of good passes amidst shots from distance that were not troubling at all
Younes (7) - played better today and didn't get trapped by the defense
Dolberg (7.5) - a bit unlucky not to have had a hat trick; PK was stone cold perfect
Traore (7) - pretty solid and played off of Tete very well, good awareness to charge the goal to get the match winner
Tete (7) - really strong going forward and put some decent crosses in as well as providing an outlet for passing; to bad he is moving on
de Jong (6) - silky smooth player who should get more playing time
Kluivert (6) - lots of speed for a tiring Copenhagen back-line

The draw for the next round is tomorrow. Roma crashed out to Lyon today and other than ManU not a lot of teams much better than Ajax left.

[Tom_]

Huh, Roma lost? They were 4–1 up...

Pretty happy with the performance. Could've been 3–0 or 4–0 on a better day. Course on a worse day it could've been 2–1 and out in extra time, I'm sure it was in the back of everyone's mind. In the end Kobenhavn didn't really threaten.

[Amol]

Course on a worse day it could've been 2–1 and out in extra time, I'm sure it was in the back of everyone's mind. In the end Kobenhavn didn't really threaten.

It was definitely in my mind. If they would've scored one, it would gone to OT and PK and we would've lost.

[souras84]

Surprisingly Boilesen was very good as a CB... Maybe wanted to prove that once upon a time he had a bright future

[Tom_]

Check out the xG plot, really were on top!

https://twitter.com/11tegen11/status/84 ... 89/photo/1

[souras84]

Do you think UEFA might take notice and prevent an Ajax besiktas clash?

[Ayman]

Do you think UEFA might take notice and prevent an Ajax besiktas clash?

Would be nice to reunite with Ryan Babel.

[Orange14]

Surprisingly Boilesen was very good as a CB... Maybe wanted to prove that once upon a time he had a bright future

I think he was a CB when he first came to Ajax

[FearNoArt]

Wow just wow Look at the setup for the first goal it all started with onana. I think you guys are a bit harsh on this team and Bosz. They´ve played very well the whole season exept for a few games. I havent seen this type of football since de boers first game in Milan. High tmpo short passing and press up high. The danish media are impressed and says Ajax deserve to go trough. Sanchez, de Ligt, Schøne, Ziyech and younes get a lot of praises..

[Ayman]

Wow just wow Look at the setup for the first goal it all started with onana. I think you guys are a bit harsh on this team and Bosz. They´ve played very well the whole season exept for a few games. I havent seen this type of football since de boers first game in Milan. High tmpo short passing and press up high. The danish media are impressed and says Ajax deserve to go trough. Sanchez, de Ligt, Schøne, Ziyech and younes get a lot of praises..

Despite the progress. Peter Bosz has made decisions that go beyond logic. E.g. Tete not starting at right back.

[FearNoArt]

Wow just wow Look at the setup for the first goal it all started with onana. I think you guys are a bit harsh on this team and Bosz. They´ve played very well the whole season exept for a few games. I havent seen this type of football since de boers first game in Milan. High tmpo short passing and press up high. The danish media are impressed and says Ajax deserve to go trough. Sanchez, de Ligt, Schøne, Ziyech and younes get a lot of praises..

Despite the progress. Peter Bosz has made decisions that go beyond logic. E.g. Tete not starting at right back.

True that. The rotation of players or the lack of it is a shame. Both Tete and Riedewald should be playing a lot more..

[SPL]

I thought we looked a lot better last night ,a bit more like a Jong game at times. I do think thats our best back 4.Tete is a better RB than Veltman but losing his place earlier in the season he has made up his mind to leave. Viergever plays well at LB.

He may well be better there than Sinkgraven as it would mean de Ligt plays.I know he is only 17 and we dont want to rush him but he is ready for the 1st team now. I wouldn't say Sanchez is much better and last night the kid was better.
He has outgrown Jong although I thought that back in August,when he was still 16. (2 games for Jong and I said this kid is way too good for this level.)

With Schone out for the next game i would hope de Jong gets some games at 6.Frenkie was quiet last night but I would play him on Sunday. April will see 7 games in 21 days and we have to rotate.Only good thing Feyenoord is the 1st game up.

PS .Just seen Blind has picked Viergever Tete and de Ligt for Oranje next week.Veltman and Klaassen also. de Ligt
is a fantastic talent but a full Oranje squad after 3 games in the 1st team!!