19 DEC 2018; Roda JC - Ajax; KNVB Beker

[Orange14]

Ajax are still on target to complete a historic triple with a cup tie scheduled with Roda. ten Hag says he likes to put the best 11 out on the pitch every match but with a tricky fixture against Utrecht on the weekend will he give some of the tired warriors a rest? Utrecht are still in the Cup and play in Rotterdam against Feyenoord on Thursday. Ajax may catch a break as Utrecht will one day less of rest and a much tougher cup match.

[SPL]

Lamprou Kristensen Wober Eiting Labyad and KJH all to start.

[Amol]

Lamprou Kristensen Wober Eiting Labyad and KJH all to start.

Actually excited about Eiting starting. He has to start splitting time with Schone at the DM spot this season.

[Cruijff]

Lamprou Kristensen Wober Eiting Labyad and KJH all to start.

Actually excited about Eiting starting. He has to start splitting time with Schone at the DM spot this season.

I am excited about all of the possible outcomes around the current AFC Ajax. No matter if the next opponent you face listens to the name De Graafschap, FC Utrecht or tonight Roda JC, I'm really enjoying every minute of this team.

[Amol]

Starting Lineup -
Lamprou
Kristensen
Schuurs
Blind
Wober
Eiting
De Jong
Labyad
Neres
Huntelaar
Tadic

Subs -
Sinkgraven
Onana
Cerny
Dolberg
de Ligt
Dani De Wit
Bakker
Gravenberch

Quite a strong lineup.

[SPL]

The 6 I named all starting plus Schuurs. Blind Tadic KJH de Jong start.

Hopefully a good win .

[Amol]

1-0!!

Tadic scores a penalty in the 13th minute.

[SPL]

cricfree and firstrow both show streams but they all come up blank,so the first time this season after 30 games I am having to follow online and not watch.

[SPL]

got a stream after 40 mins but 1-1 !! we should be winning this game 5-0

[Orange14]

I have a webplayer feed and it's not the greatest. Both teams convert from the spot for 1-1 at the half. The Roda goal came from nowhere as both Blind and Schuurs had a chance to properly defend the lone attacker and nether did. He got in and Lamprou bowled him over for the penalty. Roda are playing everyone behind the ball hoping catch a lucky break as they did. If Ajax get a goal soon in the 2nd half they just need to play keep away and force Roda to come out and play proper football. Cup ties are always dicey for Ajax and they need to be careful.

[Orange14]

Ajax are so poor in this match and now extra time. The MFs are all awful, too long on the ball and lazy passing. Credit to Roda for playing a 5-4-1 and staying well organized. This one is most likely to go to penalties as I can't see either team scoring.

[Orange14]

Onana on at the 117th minute as we do go to penalties. Dolberg had the best chance with a hard header that was well saved. Lamprou had to make a tough save at the other end. This one should not have been this hard and Ajax was not prepared for a bunker down team.

[SPL]

that was utterly dreadful and we are going to get beaten on pens. We dont have ET in cups in England and I really dont see the point of ET. Ajax could play for another hour and still not score.

[Orange14]

Ajax go through 4-2 on penalties. Blind got the winner. Penalty takers were Tadic, Huntelaar, de Light (miss), Dolberg and Blind. Onana saved the second Roda penalty; the first was missed.

No ratings for this one as I had a small screen that was running ads every five minutes.

[SPL]

Wow we can still score penalties.Onana being in goal was of course a hugh bonus. Roda did not deserve to lose we were
very poor .

Frenkie may be valued at 75m but Ziyech is still our best Midfielder.

[souras84]

YES!!! We needed a match like this one tonight! To show us we are not invincible and shake us up a little. And what better than a forgotten win on PK's. These nights build character! On to conquer Utrecht now

[SPL]

lucky I did not get a stream until nearly 40 mins as I only had to suffer 80 mins but agree this should shake us up.

Just need to beat Utrecht now

[SPL]

We will just forget this game but the back up midfield of Labyad and Eiting were poor and I still dont see how Frenkie is valued at 75m . He is not the finished article and at present I wont worry about him leaving as he can be replaced.

Replacing de LIgt Onana and Ziyech are far bigger problems. Only player last night to have had a good game was Onana that sums up how poor we were.

[Orange14]

To take up some of SPL's points, the MF was indeed dismal with every player not knowing what to do when faced with a bunker down defense. Eiting's passing in the first half was way too slow and if he cannot react faster against this competition, how can he cope with first division teams? Did Labyad have more than a couple of touches while he was on? de Jong certainly did not look like a player sought out by some of Europe's biggest clubs. ten Hag really did not have any options because of this game day selection to solve this problem as both Ziyech and van de Beek were not selected. Ajax continually tried to play balls into the center but you cannot do this against a 5-4 deep defend as there will always be a double and triple team. all the little passes over the top were just a touch to long for the player making the run.

Ajax were also too lax in defending Englels, the lone Roda striker, when they had the ball in deep. It was clear that Roda's plan was to defend and then see if they could break him if Ajax were caught up field. This is exactly what happened on the Roda play leading to the penalty. all three Ajax players: Schuurs, Blind, and Lamprou were equally at fault.

[Orange14]

Ajax draws Heerenveen in the next round of the Beker.