Match Report


PistoiesePistoiese     Ajax AmsterdamAjax Amsterdam
Mohaned AbbasMohaned Abbas Shaun Regan Shaun Regan
Moritz RothM. Roth73
G
captain1
G
78Gabriel CarrascoG. Carrasco
Eduardo QuaresmaE. Quaresma74
D
2
D
74Gavin JohnstoneG. Johnstone
Marcelo LimaM. Lima80
D
3
D
73Corrado VicariC. Vicari
Marinus HilgerinkM. Hilgerink78
D
4
D
77Kubilay IzzetK. Izzet
Arek RzasaA. Rzasa75
D
5
D
81Ólafur RíkhardssonÓ. Ríkhardsson
Daniel VelascoD. Velasco73
M
6
M
79Ioannis VakouftsisI. Vakouftsis
Jerome van der WalJ. van der Wal77
M
7
M
84Julian GötzJ. Götz
Sjaak NieuwenburgS. Nieuwenburg76
A
8
A
82John RobsonJ. Robson
Nigel PearceN. Pearce77
A
9captain
A
76Alpay AbdullahA. Abdullah
Juan DuranJ. Duran79
A
10
A
80Maryn BourgoisM. Bourgois
João VillaJ. Villa78
A
11
A
75Shabani GarraultS. Garrault
 
Jimmy HaiseJ. Haise75
A
12
M
86Nicolas FernandezN. Fernandez
Tobias PoschnerT. Poschner76
M
13
A
71Marc GravesenM. Gravesen
Jorge RegoJ. Rego73
D
14
A
71Jan Vennegoor SchutJ. Schut

Cafe Lantana
today's match is sponsored by Cafe Lantana
Match Report
It's a warm sunny day here at Stadio Comunale where Pistoiese play Ajax Amsterdam in this European Champions League game. A crowd of 19,658 fill this 21,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in good condition.
Pistoiese are playing in a 4-2-4 formation while Ajax Amsterdam appear to be shaped for 4-2-3-1.
Today's match is refereed by Fausto Tambellini.


0.00
Pistoiese get the match underway!
2.57
Julian Götz plays the ball forward to John Robson. John Robson knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Eduardo Quaresma.
3.01
Ioannis Vakouftsis threads a neat ball through to Julian Götz. Julian Götz makes a great pass forward. Ioannis Vakouftsis sprints clear and latches on but the linesman indicates offside! That was very close!
6.30
Eduardo Quaresma controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Marcelo Lima. Marcelo Lima sees Juan Duran in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Juan Duran lofts in a cross ball towards Daniel Velasco. With a superhuman jump, Daniel Velasco connects with the ball and heads it goalwards. It's a goal!! What a beauty!
9.28
Kubilay Izzet clumsily knocks into Daniel Velasco. Kubilay Izzet is given a warning by the referee! Daniel Velasco stretches but gets up unharmed.
10.31
With imagination, Jerome van der Wal plays the ball forward to Sjaak Nieuwenburg. Sjaak Nieuwenburg flicks a high pass forward. Jerome van der Wal controls it well on his chest and turns goalwards. Some silky footwork from Jerome van der Wal provides him some room. He curls a shot at goal. The ball dips under the bar and into the back of the net. Goal!!
14.07
Ólafur Ríkhardsson sees space and advances. Ólafur Ríkhardsson flicks a high pass forward. Shabani Garrault collects the pass. Shabani Garrault whips in a cross ball towards Alpay Abdullah. Alpay Abdullah shows true skill creating a chance out of nothing and knocks the ball goalwards with his head but couldn't keep it down. It goes high into the crowd!
20.56
Marcelo Lima flicks a high pass forward. Marinus Hilgerink holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Marinus Hilgerink threads a neat ball through to Daniel Velasco. Daniel Velasco controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal but it scrapes just over the bar. Good effort!
21.45
Jerome van der Wal threads a neat ball through to João Villa. João Villa shoots from 20 yards but it flies just off target!
22.25
Julian Götz comes in with a late challenge on Juan Duran. Julian Götz is warned by the referee! Juan Duran stretches but gets up unharmed.
26.28
Arek Rzasa sees Daniel Velasco in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Daniel Velasco sees João Villa in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. João Villa knocks in a cross ball towards Nigel Pearce. Nigel Pearce powers a header at goal. Gabriel Carrasco manages to gather it effortlessly.
27.13
With some swift thinking, Jerome van der Wal plays the ball forward to Nigel Pearce. Nigel Pearce shoots from outside the area. Gabriel Carrasco gathers the ball up comfortably. Good save!
28.50
With a delightful solo run, Daniel Velasco stretches the opposition's defence. Daniel Velasco knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
32.36
Julian Götz flicks a high pass forward. Ioannis Vakouftsis controls it well on his chest. Ioannis Vakouftsis knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Marcelo Lima.
34.02
Shabani Garrault makes a beautiful solo run. Shabani Garrault knocks in a poor cross ball which is cleared easily by Arek Rzasa.
36.12
Eduardo Quaresma makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Jerome van der Wal. Without breaking stride, Jerome van der Wal plays the ball forward to Nigel Pearce. Nigel Pearce makes a probing pass between the defence to Sjaak Nieuwenburg. Sjaak Nieuwenburg comes in from the left and smashes a shot from 12 yards out but Gabriel Carrasco is on top of it.
40.50
Jerome van der Wal makes a probing pass to Sjaak Nieuwenburg. Sjaak Nieuwenburg lofts in a cross ball towards Jerome van der Wal. Jerome van der Wal finds space and glances the ball goalwards with his head. Fantastic reactions from Kubilay Izzet blocks the shot!
42.29
Jerome van der Wal controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Juan Duran. Juan Duran knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Gavin Johnstone.
45.00
The whistle blows and the first half comes to an end!

Both teams emerge for the second half. Pistoiese appear unchanged since the first half. Ajax Amsterdam also appear unchanged since the first half. The Ajax Amsterdam players look more motivated than they were before.

45.00
Ajax Amsterdam start the second half!
47.14
Marcelo Lima flicks a high pass forward to Jerome van der Wal who brings the ball neatly under control. With a delightful solo run, Jerome van der Wal stretches the opposition's defence. Jerome van der Wal whips in a cross ball towards Juan Duran. Juan Duran makes a looping header on goal. The ball edges inside the post - goal!!
51.57
Ólafur Ríkhardsson chips the ball to his team mate, Julian Götz. Julian Götz flicks a high pass forward. Alpay Abdullah collects the pass. Alpay Abdullah shoots from distance. The ball flies a good few feet wide of the post.
54.35
Ioannis Vakouftsis makes a beautiful pass to the feet of John Robson. John Robson threads a neat ball through to Shabani Garrault. Shabani Garrault takes a shot at goal. Shabani Garrault scores for Ajax Amsterdam!!
57.46
Kubilay Izzet sees Julian Götz in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Julian Götz flicks a high pass forward to Ioannis Vakouftsis who brings the ball under control. Ioannis Vakouftsis sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal but it is shockingly off target!
59.18
Julian Götz flicks a high ball forward to Maryn Bourgois who takes it down. Maryn Bourgois controls the ball well and immediately threads the ball forward, putting Ioannis Vakouftsis through on goal. Ioannis Vakouftsis looks for support before firing off a hurried shot at goal. The ball dips but the keeper is a match for it. He makes it look easy!
60.46
Pistoiese have made a substitution with Jimmy Haise replacing João Villa .Ajax Amsterdam have made 3 substitutions with Nicolas Fernandez replacing Ioannis Vakouftsis, Marc Gravesen replacing Maryn Bourgois and Jan Vennegoor Schut replacing Shabani Garrault .
61.55
Corrado Vicari makes a probing pass to Julian Götz. Julian Götz changes direction and makes an attacking run forward. Julian Götz knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Marcelo Lima.
66.21
Kubilay Izzet catches Nigel Pearce on the ankles. The referee warns Kubilay Izzet again to calm down! Nigel Pearce gets up, but that knock is affecting his game.
67.03
Marinus Hilgerink kicks a strong pass forward to Daniel Velasco. Daniel Velasco flicks a high pass forward to Jerome van der Wal who brings the ball under control. Jerome van der Wal controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal. The ball swerves in the air but the keeper is on top of it. Excellent keeping!
71.24
Ólafur Ríkhardsson takes it forward alone. Ólafur Ríkhardsson brings the ball forward. Ólafur Ríkhardsson knocks in a cross ball towards John Robson. John Robson outjumps his marker and heads the ball goalward. It's in!! A beautiful goal for John Robson!
77.31
Marcelo Lima chips the ball to his team mate, Jerome van der Wal. Jerome van der Wal controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Daniel Velasco. Daniel Velasco sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal but it is tipped over by Gabriel Carrasco.
78.42
Jerome van der Wal takes the corner kick, swinging the ball in towards the near post. Gabriel Carrasco scrambles forward, punching the ball out to safety!
81.18
Kubilay Izzet plays the ball forward to Ólafur Ríkhardsson. Ólafur Ríkhardsson kicks a strong pass forward to John Robson. John Robson whips in a cross ball towards Jan Vennegoor Schut. Jan Vennegoor Schut beats his man to it with a header. The ball clips the underside of the bar and bounces just over the line. The fans cheer wildly!
84.46
Daniel Velasco flicks a high pass forward to Juan Duran who brings the ball under control. Juan Duran shoots from long range. The ball comes in low, but Gabriel Carrasco effortlessly smothers it!
85.31
Corrado Vicari barges into Jimmy Haise. The referee brings Corrado Vicari to one side and gives him a warning! Jimmy Haise hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
89.22
Kubilay Izzet makes a simple pass to Ólafur Ríkhardsson. Ólafur Ríkhardsson flicks a high pass forward. Alpay Abdullah holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Alpay Abdullah lofts in a cross ball towards John Robson. John Robson outjumps his marker and heads the ball goalward but Moritz Roth is on top of it.
90.00
The referee blows the final whistle

Match Statistics
 

Pistoiese

Ajax Amsterdam
Goals
3
3
Shots on Target
10
5
Shots off Target
2
3
Offsides
0
1
Fouls
0
4
Yellow Cards
0
0
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
59.3%
40.7%
Play Area
29.1%
41.9%
29.1%

Scorers
Daniel Velasco 6
Jerome van der Wal 10
Juan Duran 47
Shabani Garrault 54
John Robson 71
Jan Vennegoor Schut 81

Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Jerome van der Wal of Pistoiese

Match Ratings
1.Moritz Roth (GK)
6
2.Eduardo Quaresma (DEF)
6
3.Marcelo Lima (DEF)
6
4.Marinus Hilgerink (DEF)
6
5.Arek Rzasa (DEF)
6
6.Daniel Velasco (MID)goal scored
8
7.Jerome van der Wal (MID)goal scored
9
8.Sjaak Nieuwenburg (ATT)
6
9.Nigel Pearce (ATT)
6
10.Juan Duran (ATT)goal scored
7
11.João Villa (ATT)
6
 
12.Jimmy Haise (ATT)
6
13.Tobias Poschner (MID)
0
14.Jorge Rego (DEF)
0

1.Gabriel Carrasco (GK)
7
2.Gavin Johnstone (DEF)
6
3.Corrado Vicari (DEF)
6
4.Kubilay Izzet (DEF)
6
5.Ólafur Ríkhardsson (DEF)
7
6.Ioannis Vakouftsis (MID)
6
7.Julian Götz (MID)
6
8.John Robson (ATT)goal scored
8
9.Alpay Abdullah (ATT)
6
10.Maryn Bourgois (ATT)
6
11.Shabani Garrault (ATT)goal scored
7
 
12.Nicolas Fernandez (MID)
6
13.Marc Gravesen (ATT)
6
14.Jan Vennegoor Schut (ATT)goal scored
7