Ajax Amsterdam vs Arsenal
Match pulse
AJAAttacking pressure by 5 minutes
Who won: Arsenal 2-1
Arsenal beat Ajax Amsterdam 2-1 on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 at Johan Cruijff Arena. Goals for Ajax: Markus Rosenberg (71'). Goals for Arsenal: Freddie Ljungberg (2') and Robert Pires (69').
Play by play
- 95'
FULL-TIME: Arsenal make it six points from six in their Champions League campaign. They probably deserved the win after controlling most of the game, though Ajax gave it a real go in the final twenty minutes.
- 94'
SUB: Cygan on, Hleb off. Arsenal attempt to shore up their defence in the final seconds.
- 93'
Owusu-Abeyie chases down a long Cole clearance, but he is penalised for tugging on the shirt of Grygera.
- 92'
Almunia is booked for time-wasting when he kicks away a ball thrown to him by a ball-boy. Both goalkeepers have been booked tonight.
- 91'
Rosenberg is winning more than his fair share of headers. Ajax win a corner off Cole. Galasek lofts the ball in to the back post, but it is a foot too long for Lindenbergh.
- 90'
There will be five minutes of stoppage time, the majority of which will be for the lengthy break required when Toure and Charisteas clashed heads.
- 89'
Owusu-Abeyie finds Hleb on the edge of the area with a measured pass, but the Belarussian mis-controls at the crucial time.
- 88'
Pienaar finds Babel on the edge of the penalty area, but the youngster fires his shot high over Almunia's crossbar. Pienaar has been Ajax's best player by a distance.
- 87'
Owusu-Abeyie is penalised for a high foot on the half-way line. Ajax pile players forward, but Arsenal remain organised and alert at the back.
- 86'
SUB: Cliche on, Pires off. A defensive change for Arsenal. Pires was a doubt to start the game, so he has done well to last this long.
- 85'
Oooh! Superb skill from Pienaar as he lifts the ball over two Arsenal defenders towards Lindenbergh, who opts not to head first-time for goal but to try and control the ball, allowing Toure time to get back and put him under pressure.
- 84'
SUB: Emanuelson off, Juanfran on. A change at left-back for Ajax, the young Spaniard Juanfran coming on to try and offer a little more going forward in the final stages of the match.
- 83'
Ajax are having a lot more of the ball than they have at any other time of the match, but they are still struggling to create any real pressure on the visitors.
- 82'
Arsenal are pulling a lot more players back to defend as Ajax press for an equaliser. Owusu-Abeyie is now operating up front on his own.
- 80'
SUB: Owusu-Abeyie replaces Reyes. The young substitute actually came through the Ajax academy before he was picked up by Arsenal. He will have something to prove tonight.
- 79'
Oooh! Vonk makes a smart save after a deflection off Reyes came zipping towards him. Corner to Arsenal, who prepare to make a change.
- 79'
De Jong shows good strength to rob the ball of Ljungberg inside the area after the Swede had been found by Reyes' precise cross.
- 78'
Wenger would, I'm sure, love to make a change - his side are losing the ball too easily up front at the moment - but he has a very inexperienced bench.
- 77'
De Jong beats three men with a great run from the right wing, though he is eventually dispossessed 25 yards out.
- 76'
Rosenberg collects Pienaar's pass in to his feet, turns Toure and fires in a low shot from 25 yards, though it is easy for Almunia to gather.
- 75'
The home crowd have come to life now; they are really getting behind their side and urging them forward.
- 74'
Ajax are passing the ball with more zip and purpose now as they seek an equaliser. They are also committing lots of men forward, which is leaving a lot of space at the back for Arsenal to exploit.
- 73'
Rosenberg is causing a few problems for the Arsenal defence; he is a lot more mobile than Charisteas, and his runs in to the channels are dragging the Arsenal defenders in to places they don't want to be in.
- 72'
And Ajax probably deserved a goal themselves for a much-improved second-half showing. Galasek's shot from 25 yards beat Almunia's drive, though it struck the inside of the post. Rosenberg was quickest to react and placed the ball in to an empty net.
- 72'
In review: Arsenal's penalty was certainly a correct decision from the referee - Reyes had his heels clipped by Vonk as he attempted to round him - though there was a little suspicion of off-side as he raced on to Pires' through-ball.
