Olympique takes the win and leaves Ajax with the ???s…

The fatal goal…

Ajax left the UEFA Cup tournament with their heads held high. Olympique Marseille spoiled Ajax’ 109th birthday with a late goal in the 109th minute (2-2). How ironic…

Olympique’s prize is a spot in the quarter finals. And they left Ajax in Amsterdam with the question marks.

But Ajax did gain respect, despite the ousting. Respect for their courage and discipline. For quite a while, it seemed Ajax was the only team deserving of a spot in the next round. It would be the first time in eleven years that Ajax would get that far in the second most important European tournament. Six years back, Ajax reached the quarter finals in the CL against AC Milan, only to be beaten by a late goal by Jon Dahl Tomasson in a boiling San Siro.

It took extra time to finish off the game. Sulejmani’s 2-1 some 15 minutes before regular playing time exploded the Amsterdam ArenA. The importance of the goal, sure, but also the shear beauty of it. Luis Suarez turned like a ballerina in the box and placed the ball JC-style with the outside foot on Sulejmani’s head.

Ajax got what it deserved. It took the initiative during the whole match, but despite his wonderful game, it was the same Suarez who squandered the two best chances. Twice, the Uruguayan came eye to eye with the OM goalie, and twice he missed.

The big question for Ajax was, how would the midfield hold? Three dwarf like players – all not taller than 1.70 meters – were placed on the sheet, forced by injuries. Vurnon Anita, Eyong Enoh and Ismail Aissati took on the task.

And all three played a tremendous game. Anite (white shoes) worked hard and was always available. Enoh (yellow kicks) scored the 1-0 on a Suarez through-pass and Aissati (orange shoes) demonstrated his creativity time and time again. PSV hardly allowed Aissati to shine, but he played his best match ever in this UEFA Cup fixture. He received a standing ovation when subbed late in extra time.

Marseille’s goals did raise quite some questions about Ajax’ lack of killer defending and new goalie Vermeer should also look in the mirror. Despite the air of offside of the late 2-2, Ajax should have and could have defended a bit more lively, so to speak.

Eric Gerets admitted that Ajax was the better team and deserved to win, but “hey, that’s football, bladibladibla…” And “as a PSV man, I was obliged to exit Ajax after beating PSV twice…”. (cough: wanker)…

So, no more European football for Ajax. But still heaps of questions.

Maarten….Kenneth….Kenneth….Maarten….Maarten…Kenneth….

How is it possible that that Ajax seems to perform well against bigger foreign clubs and pedestrian against Dutch sub-top teams. Ajax failed against Willem II, 2-1, Heerenveen, 5-2, ADO, 1-1, Heracles, 2-2, Volendam, 1-0 and Vitesse, 4-1… But showed strength against Aston Villa (2-1), won away in Hamburg (0-1) and eliminated Fiorentina. And missing six starting players, Ajax almost beat Olympique…

Van Basten: “I wist I knew why this is like it is. Maybe because in Holland, the opponents sit back and allow us to make the play. But, at the same time, Olympique allowed us the initiative as well, so….”

Ajax played against Villa, HSV and Fiorentina with a fortified defence, but against the French number 2, Ajax played pressure. Aissati was constantly available, Anita – only 19 years old – played like an experienced playmaker and 20 year old Toby Alderweireld was spoiling his forwards with precise long-distance passes over 40 meters or more.

These lads must have caught the eye of Van Basten. Where does that leave Vertonghen, Gabri, Vermaelen, Van der Wiel and Lindgren? “I won’t go into individual players… I think the whole team played well and did what they had to do. But, yeah, our midfield played very well.”

Luis Suarez was picked as the man of the match. He did miss two huge opportunities, but he also had two assists. In particular his little turn in the box, preparing the 2-1 will be shown on tv in England, Spain and Italy. Can we expect Suarez to be in Amsterdam, next season? And will Ajax be as strong when Sulejmani and Cvitanich will lead the attack? “We won’t sell our best players. We want to grow and develop,” was Van Basten’s response to questions about Suarez. But…didn’t he say this about Huntelaar as well?

Another player raising questions was Kenneth Vermeer. Like last week in Marseille. Both French goals last night weren’t obvious mistakes by Vermeer, but somehow you do get the feeling that maybe Stekelenburg would have stopped at least one… Why did Van Basten sacrifice his skipper and the Oranje goalie when the difference between the two goalies is not that big? “We’ve made a decision. And that was a hard one. Now, we’ve made it, we will stick to it,” Van Basten said. “And I don’t think Vermeer can be blamed for those two goals.”