22 JAN 2020; Ajax - SV Spakenburg; Beker Round of 16

[Orange14]

Ajax got a very favorable draw in the next round of the Beker. SV Spakenburg are a mostly amateur 2nd division side. Former Ajax youth product, Vince Gino Dekker, plays for Spakenburg having left professional football to work in his parents clothing company.

In addition, the draw sets out the road to the finals. The only Eredivisie team on the Ajax bracket side is Utrecht. Ajax can only face AZ, Feyenoord or PSV in the finals.

[Marillion]

Spakenburg will have no trouble getting motivated for this match. Apart from a chance to play Ajax in the Arena. Ajax play in the same team colors as their arch rivals IJsselmeervogels. These teams are situated directly next to each other.

[Ayman]

Ajax are likely to get their rhythm back, so the rest of the season is something to look forward to, in terms of domestic and European silverware.

[Orange14]

Spakenburg will have no trouble getting motivated for this match. Apart from a chance to play Ajax in the Arena. Ajax play in the same team colors as their arch rivals IJsselmeervogels. These teams are situated directly next to each other.

Thanks for the reminder!!! I remember reading a long story about the rivalry.

[Marillion]

I visited the derby a few times. They really take it quite seriously there, the whole village is divided between red and blue. When one club builds a new stand, the other club starts making plans to build a bigger one.

During the derby. Don't expect good football. Do expect some fireworks on and off the pitch. This was during the last match where a tackle was made "a bit late":

[Amol]

Squad for today -
Varela; Dest, Álvarez, Martínez, Tagliafico; Marin, De Jong, Eiting; Tadic, Traoré, Babel

Interesting to see Alvarez finally playing RCB & Eiting slotting in at DM.

[SPL]

Schuurs played 90 mins on Monday so did not expect to see him start. de Jong !! Sorry but this guy should no longer be at the club although with Ziyech out for 3 games min. and Labyad and Neres not fit then I guess de Jong may be used.

[Amol]

Yeah not sure what De Jong is still doing with us. Of course now he'll go and score a hat-trick today.

[Amol]

Siem scored the 1st one in the 18th minute.

[Amol]

2-0 Siem De Jong.

SPL - he's making us eat crow. I do realize we're playing Spakenburg, but someone still has to put the ball into the goal.

[Amol]

Siem De Jong hat-trick in the 45th minute.

[SPL]

Siem 3 goals typical. Spakenburg are of course minnows and not even the best team in their village but game is now over.

Watched 35 mins then streams down getting fed up with this

[Orange14]

Siem de Jong!!!!!!!

[SPL]

Stream working ,Traore a nice goal

[Amol]

Now Traore scores 2

[SPL]

5-0 Traore another well taken goal.

[Amol]

Unuvar has started warming up and apparently the crowd is going crazy

[Amol]

Unuvar scores with an 85th minute penalty. He was 'apparently' brought down in the box (looked very innocuous to me).

Edit - Upon further review it does seem that penalty was the correct decision.

[Orange14]

Ajax had to do very little defending as Spakenburg could not keep the ball for any length of time. Unuvar got his first team debut and scored on a PK after he was brought down in the box. Hard to give any player more than a '7' as the opposition was not very good. For me Eiting was MOTM. Smooth on the ball and really orchestrated play as the holding MF.

Player Ratings:

Varela (5.5) - had one easy save to make and that was about the only time he touched the ball
Tagliafico (6.5) - dynamic in the offensive end with little to worry about on the defensive side
Martinez (6.5) - decent enough with little to do
Alvarez (6.5) - full 90 in the center of the defense and had a couple of nice moves into the offensive zone
Dest (7) - pushed up all day long and got back quickly on the rare occasion when he needed to
Eiting (7) - really solid tonight
Marin (7) - partnered Eiting very well
de Jong (7) - first half hat trick on some nicely taken goals
Babel (6) - a couple of poor touches but good otherwise
Traore (7) - two goals and some nice play in tight spaces
Tadic (7) - OK out on the wing with some good ball handling and passing
Ekkelenkamp (6) - had a goal taken away with an off sides call
Huntelaar (5.5) - had one half chance
Unuvar (5.5) - on late and showed some flare with the ball

Groningen on the weekend which should be a sterner test.

[SPL]

Very comfortable win ,thankfully got a good stream for 2nd half . Highlight of the evening everyone cheering and getting to their feet for Naci Unuvar to come on and then again when he converted the penalty . It seems a million years ago when another little lad came on v Willem in a cup and scored on debut. We must all hope Naci has a long and fruitful career and stays with us for a few years.

Mention of Traore he looked good and got 2 goals and Eiting played very well, and my MOM also.

[SPL]

On Ajaxshowtime today an article by Menno Pot on Naci last night and the similarity with Appie's debut vWillem in the cup and his free kick goal.Menno concludes that a 23 year old Appie should have been there last night having played a 100 times by now.

I think most Ajax fans were thinking similar thoughts last night.Really was a beautiful sight all the fans standing and cheering Naci's entrance

[Orange14]

On Ajaxshowtime today an article by Menno Pot on Naci last night and the similarity with Appie's debut vWillem in the cup and his free kick goal.Menno concludes that a 23 year old Appie should have been there last night having played a 100 times by now.

I think most Ajax fans were thinking similar thoughts last night.Really was a beautiful sight all the fans standing and cheering Naci's entrance

It was a special night as de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong also made their first team debuts. The next cup match was away to Kozzaken Boys and Nouri was swarmed by young supporters after the match.