Wednesday, August 27, 2003
201
AFC Ajax Amsterdam is in deep trouble. The third round qualifying match between Ajax and Graz resulted in 1 - 1 after full time. With the aggregate of 2 - 2, they are playing in extra time through the silver goal rule.
If Ajax lost this, it would be a disastrous start for Koemen and the boys.
C'mon Ajax.
p/s - And Ajax is through for the 2003/04 UEFA Champions' League group stage! Thank you Tomas Galasek! Thank you Zlatan Ibrahimovic! Thank you Wesley Sneijder!
Ajax labour through against nine-man Graz
AMSTERDAM, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Ajax Amsterdam laboured through to the Champions League group stage on Wednesday when they beat nine-man Graz AK of Austria 2-1 with a 'silver goal' by Tomas Galasek.
The Czech midfielder struck from the penalty spot a minute from the end of the first period of extra time to settle a tightly contested third qualifying round tie 3-2 on aggregate in the Dutch side's favour.
Ajax, who were fortunate to gain a 1-1 draw in Austria a fortnight ago, took a 15th-minute lead through Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who headed home a Maxwell cross.
By then Graz's Roland Kollmann had already threatened Bogdan Lobont's goal. Graz midfielder Dieter Ramusch also came close to an equaliser midway through the first half but Ajax's French defender Julien Escude cleared his effort off the line.
Escude's misjudgement, however, gave Kollmann a free route to the Ajax goal after 40 minutes and the Austrian international beat Lobont to make the score 1-1.
Ajax, Champions League quarter-finalists last season, lost their organisation and shortly after the break Kollmann failed to punish sloppy defending as he missed two great chances within 60 seconds.
The well-organised Austrian defence kept a tight grip of Ajax's attackers to force extra time but six minutes into the first period they were down to 10 men after left back Gregor Potscher received his second yellow card for a foul on Wamberto.
Seven minutes later a handball by Graz's Anton Ehmann was punished by Russian referee Valentin Ivanov with a penalty and a second booking for Ehmann, who was also dismissed.
Galasek calmly converted the spot kick to kill the tie and bring relief to the four times former European champions.
AFC Ajax Amsterdam is in deep trouble. The third round qualifying match between Ajax and Graz resulted in 1 - 1 after full time. With the aggregate of 2 - 2, they are playing in extra time through the silver goal rule.If Ajax lost this, it would be a disastrous start for Koemen and the boys.
C'mon Ajax.
p/s - And Ajax is through for the 2003/04 UEFA Champions' League group stage! Thank you Tomas Galasek! Thank you Zlatan Ibrahimovic! Thank you Wesley Sneijder!
Ajax labour through against nine-man Graz
AMSTERDAM, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Ajax Amsterdam laboured through to the Champions League group stage on Wednesday when they beat nine-man Graz AK of Austria 2-1 with a 'silver goal' by Tomas Galasek.
The Czech midfielder struck from the penalty spot a minute from the end of the first period of extra time to settle a tightly contested third qualifying round tie 3-2 on aggregate in the Dutch side's favour.
Ajax, who were fortunate to gain a 1-1 draw in Austria a fortnight ago, took a 15th-minute lead through Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who headed home a Maxwell cross.
By then Graz's Roland Kollmann had already threatened Bogdan Lobont's goal. Graz midfielder Dieter Ramusch also came close to an equaliser midway through the first half but Ajax's French defender Julien Escude cleared his effort off the line.
Escude's misjudgement, however, gave Kollmann a free route to the Ajax goal after 40 minutes and the Austrian international beat Lobont to make the score 1-1.
Ajax, Champions League quarter-finalists last season, lost their organisation and shortly after the break Kollmann failed to punish sloppy defending as he missed two great chances within 60 seconds.
The well-organised Austrian defence kept a tight grip of Ajax's attackers to force extra time but six minutes into the first period they were down to 10 men after left back Gregor Potscher received his second yellow card for a foul on Wamberto.
Seven minutes later a handball by Graz's Anton Ehmann was punished by Russian referee Valentin Ivanov with a penalty and a second booking for Ehmann, who was also dismissed.
Galasek calmly converted the spot kick to kill the tie and bring relief to the four times former European champions.
