31 Mar 2013: Ajax - NEC

[Kowalczyk]

After a weekend of internationals (22/23 March)...

Eredivisie 2012-2013. Matchday 28.

Kick-off time at the Amsterdam ArenA is 16:30 CET on Easter Sunday.

Could be an interesting weekend for Ajax: both Feyenoord and PSV play away from home, at Heerenveen and Roda, respectively. I'm not saying that those team are great, but Feyenoord always have a really hard time in Heerenveen - and the same goes for PSV at Roda. Tricky away games for them.

Also, Feyenoord play on Saturday evening and PSV play at 12:30 on Sunday. Which means that Ajax will know what the deal is when they kick-off at 16:30.

Something tells me that Feyenoord will lose in Heerenveen. They're without Pellè (suspended), so...

K.

[ajaxusa]

This game will be on espn3 in the States:

6:30 AM EDT Roda JC vs. PSV
10:30 AM EDT Ajax vs. NEC

[ajaxusa]

Is the game so late because it's Easter Sunday? (The day Ajax fans celebrate the resurrection of their lord and saviour, Johan Cruijff?)

[Tom_]

Heerenveen beat Feyenoord 2–0. Two goals in the last ten minutes.

[ajaxusa]

Heerenveen beat Feyenoord 2–0. Two goals in the last ten minutes.

Hells yes. Slow roasted cockroach is on the menu, boys.

[rjf1]

Let's not forget that Vitesse are also in the mix and they also play before our game -- a win for them vs. Zwolle gets them even with us on points, so that also means a must win for us.

[King Litti]

Babel returns to the squad for this game. Poulsen is out.

Squad:

Kenneth Vermeer
Ricardo van Rhijn
Toby Alderweireld
Niklas Moisander
Christian Eriksen
Kolbeinn Sigthórsson
Siem de Jong
Daley Blind
Lasse Schöne
Derk Boerrigter
Jasper Cillessen
Danny Hoesen
Thulani Serero
Jody Lukoki
Joël Veltman
Mitchell Dijks
Viktor Fischer
Ryan Babel

I remembered that van Rhijn would have been suspended for this one, guess not (at least according to ajaxshowtime web site).

It seems that van Rhijn and Moisander are one yellow away from suspensions. There was talk that maybe they should take a deliberate card in this game to avoid a possible suspension in the PSV game. I know we can't take wins against NEC and Heracles for granted, but I can't escape thinking about the PSV game. It's going to be huge. But yes, first things first. Let's take care of business today.

[Orange14]

Totally forgot PSV were in the early match today. Roda takes a point at home with a 2-2 draw, having a really good chance to win it in the last minute of extra time. We need to take care of business today with a solid win. One at a time now!!!

[rjf1]

Roda had about 5 stone cold chances to tie the game in the second half but couldn't put the ball in the net and it looked like PSV was going to get 3 points out of the match -- but with 5 minutes to go, they finally got the break they deserved and tied the game at 2-2. Let's take this game and go three points up.

[souras84]

Here's our team of the day:

Vermeer;

Van Rhijn, Alderweireld, Moisander, Blind;

De Jong, Schöne, Eriksen;

Boerrigter, Sigthórsson, Fischer

Let's go get them!

[Tom_]

Looks like Vitesse are on track for a win at home to PEC. So if we win today we'll be on 60 points with PSV and Vitesse on 57 and Feyenoord on 56. PSV's goal difference is far better than ours, so we would only be 2.5 points in front of them: they would overtake us if we lose to them in Eindhoven. Another interesting finish to the Eredivisie...

[SPL]

We just need to win today .

[Tom_]

Couldn't agree more ;)

If we keep winning it's ours again

[rjf1]

PSV looked really vulnerable on defense against Roda -- that cretin van Bommel was slow and ponderous -- with speed and ball control we should be able to take them, no problem.

[souras84]

PSV looked really vulnerable on defense against Roda -- that cretin van Bommel was slow and ponderous -- with speed and ball control we should be able to take them, no problem.

So let's pray he plays in our game also.

[rjf1]

Referee must have forgot to bring his red and yellow cards to the game.

[souras84]

Same case scenario again. Chances, chances, chances... wasted

[Orange14]

Well taken Viktor!!!

[rjf1]

Fantastic interplay between Blind, Siggi, Siem and Fischer lets Fischer walk in and finally get the opening goal. Nicely done!

[Amol]

Great goal. One touch passes - Blind - De Jong and then Fischer for the goal.



......and the 2nd from an OG

[King Litti]

Things looking good, very good. Good quick passing and movement in front of the box to find free space. Let's keep it up and catch PSV in goal difeerence;)

[King Litti]

That's the Boerrigter I like to see. It would have been a beauty.

[ajaxusa]

Referee must have forgot to bring his red and yellow cards to the game.

I know Ajax fans love to hate Wegereef, but he's done nothing wrong (yet). That was no penalty for Boerrigter.

Ajax look comfortable. Let's just hope they remember it's a 90 minute game.

[souras84]

Or get a 3rd one...

[Orange14]

Really not troubled on defense at all by NEC. Two good goals but Boerrigter and van Rhijn could have done much better with some crosses and attempts. This "should" be a comfortable victory if the players don't lose their heads.