02 Dec 2009: FC Timişoara - Ajax

[Kowalczyk]

Romania! Kick-off time is 21:05, but I'm not entirely sure as to whether that's CET or Eastern European time...

By the way, it seems like Dinamo Zagreb succesfully appealed against their penalty, and they got their three points back. Doesn't matter: we beat them twice, we're top of the group... just keep going.

Group A table:

1. AFC Ajax: 4-8
2. RSC Anderlecht: 4-8
3. Dinamo Zagreb: 4-3
4. FC Timişoara: 4-2

K.

[Dubbel]

Ajax need 1 point to qualify for the 2nd round. A win is welcome so that we can try be become group winners. For those who need a quick read up:

Match background
• Timişoara are yet to win in ten matches in UEFA club competition, though they eliminated FC Shakhtar Donetsk from this season's UEFA Champions League third qualifying round on away goals following back-to-back draws.

• Timişoara have not scored in four European home contests this season, with those games yielding two defeats and two 0-0 draws.

• Unbeaten in their last seven continental outings home and away, Ajax's record in their last ten UEFA competition away encounters reads W6 D1 L3.

Team facts
• Ajax's coach Martin Jol, a three-times capped former Netherlands midfielder, spent much of his playing career at ADO Den Haag but also represented FC Bayern München, FC Twente, West Bromwich Albion FC and Coventry City FC. He has coached Roda JC, RKC Waalwijk, Tottenham Hotspur FC and, last season, reached the UEFA Cup semi-finals with Hamburger SV.

• Jol faced Romanian opposition with two of his former clubs. His Hamburg side eliminated FC Unirea Urziceni in last term's UEFA Cup first round, winning 2-0 away following a 0-0 draw at home. Two seasons previously, Jol's Tottenham Hotspur FC outfit beat FC Dinamo 1948 Bucureşti 3-1 in the group stage of the same competition.

• Capped 52 times by Romania, former midfielder Ioan Ovidiu Sabău is in his first season as Timişoara coach. As a player, he won Romanian titles with Dinamo and FC Rapid Bucureşti and played abroad with Feyenoord (winning two Dutch Cups), Brescia Calcio and AC Reggiana.

• The Timişoara coach played for Ajax's Eredivisie rivals Feyenoord from 1990-92. His three league games against Ajax – who featured Jol's assistants Danny Blind and John van't Schip – all ended in defeat, but his side overcame the Amsterdam club 1-0 in the quarter-finals en route to claiming a second successive Dutch Cup in 1992.

• Ajax boast Romanian talent in the form of defender George Ogăraru, who joined from FC Steaua Bucureşti in 2006 and spent last season back on loan at the club.

• Ajax's Luis Suárez has had more shots on goal than any other player in the UEFA Europa League group stage, with his 20 efforts producing just the one goal prior to Matchday 5. He has also been fouled 15 times, with only Fenerbahçe SK's Emre Belözoğlu subject to more illegal challenges.

• A 3-1 loss to Anderlecht on Matchday 4 was Timişoara's heaviest away defeat in UEFA club competition.

• Ajax host Anderlecht to conclude their Group A campaign on 17 December, with Timişoara visiting Dinamo on the same night.

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacu ... index.html

Also; (according to today's Telegraaf) Urby and Anita may not be fit to play while Verthongen should be able to make it.

http://eurorivals.net/live-streams/ajax ... soara.html

[Amol]

Lineups -

Stekelenburg
Van Der Wiel
Alderweireld
Vertonghen
Anita
Enoh
De Zeeuw
Donald
Suarez
Pantelic
Emanuelson

[souras84]

shitty start

[Amol]

Lineups -

Stekelenburg
Van Der Wiel
Alderweireld
Vertonghen
Anita
Enoh
De Zeeuw
Donald
Suarez
Pantelic
Emanuelson

Wow, we're down 1-0 already

[souras84]

now thats what I call a response

[Amol]

now thats what I call a response

- now lets score 4 more please

[NE_Ajax_Fan]

NVS1 on sopcast behaving a bit strange. If anyone needs a stream try sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/60341 on sopcast.

[souras84]

what a nice piece of defending

[Orange14]

NVS1 on sopcast behaving a bit strange. If anyone needs a stream try sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/60341 on sopcast.

It's a little better but I cannot understand the Dutch.

[NE_Ajax_Fan]

"It's a little better but I cannot understand the Dutch"

Aye forgot to mention its in Romanian - still it has to be better than the rubbish commentary thats served up in the UK.

[souras84]

at least twente are 1 down

[gordonvandekamp]

We look a little shaky defensively, but it's pretty clear skill-wise that Ajax is miles ahead. Getting by lots of players one-on-one, however the passing in the build-up hasn't looked that good either. Sounds look good Ajax support there too, at least from the handball on Donald.

One more goal before the half!

[NE_Ajax_Fan]

Come on Luis - stick it in the net

[souras84]

2 people offside there. no whistle!

[gordonvandekamp]

Urby looks like he took a pretty good knock just before the half, not sure if he will be back, but I don't think I'd risk it.

(P.S. I never knew Romanians enjoyed professional wrestling so much, at least that's what their commercials would have me believe)

[gordonvandekamp]

Pantelic 1-2, not even a minute into the 2nd.

[Orange14]

Pantelic 1-2, not even a minute into the 2nd.

Turning into a real scoring machine!!!

[Amol]

Pantelic 1-2, not even a minute into the 2nd.

Turning into a real scoring machine!!!

[gordonvandekamp]

Urby did go off, Oleguer is on for the second half.

[Orange14]

this should be over now. Red card for a pull down in the penalty area.

[gordonvandekamp]

Fucking hell, Suarez penalty miss. I'd rather see it fly over the bar every time than a weak effort.

[souras84]

somehow I knew it

[Orange14]

spoke to soon as Suarez misses the PK

[Amol]

this should be over now. Red card for a pull down in the penalty area.

...and Suarez misses the penalty.