Dutch Eredivisie: De Graafschap 1-4 http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/AFC-Ajax-c38228 Amsterdam – Match report
Ajax Amsterdam began their Eredivisie title defence in style by comprehensively defeating De Graafschap at De Vijverberg Stadion on Sunday, August 7. The match ended in an easy 4-1 win in favour of the Amsterdammers.
De Graafschap started the match in front of their home crowd in a positive manner whereas the defending Eredivisie champions were slow in finding their rhythm. The visitors were punished in the 15th minute for their modest start to the opening
half of the clash, when Ted van de Pavert sent the ball into the back of the net with an impressive header on a Sjoerd Overgoor corner from the right. The home fans went ecstatic seeing their beloved side score the opening goal against the Amsterdam giants.
However, their excitement was short-lived as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Miralem-Sulejmani-c25985 levelled the score-line seven minutes after the opening goal. Gregory van der Wiel tried his luck from distance with a powerful shot that Joost Terol, the Superboeren goalkeeper, could only deflect
away for Sulejmani to tap in from eight yards out.
At the half-hour mark, the Amsterdammers took the lead through http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Derk-Boerrigter-c10972. Sulejmani played an intelligent through ball to Boerrigter on the right and the young striker did well to send the ball into the net with a neat finish.
Two minutes later, the Amsterdam giants had a perfect opportunity to make the score-line 3-1 after they were awarded a spot kick following an adjudged handball. However, Terol denied http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Siem-de-Jong-c33482 from the spot and the home side breathed a sigh of relief.
Graafschap tried hard to find the equaliser, but the Ajax defence stood firm to deny their efforts. At the half-time whistle, the visitors were leading the match 2-1.
The hosts had a chance to level the score-line early in the second-half when Gregor Breinburg won the ball well but failed to defeat http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Kenneth-Vermeer-c20618 in a one-on-one opportunity.
However, the visitors doubled their lead in the 62nd minute of the match when Sulejmani scored his second of the evening. The 22-year-old received a through ball from http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Christian-Eriksen-c9074 and made no mistake in finding the target from 16 yards.
Three minutes later, the Amsterdammers were awarded a free kick and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Theo-Janssen-c34871 sealed the game 4-1 in favour of the visitors. The 30-year-old’s left-footed curling effort found the top right corner, leaving the hosts’ goalkeeper unmoved.
With an impressive three-goal margin victory, the Amsterdam giants have clinched the top spot in the league table.
The Amsterdammers will face http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Utrecht-c39237 at Stadion Galgenwaard in their respective second encounters of the 2011/12 campaign on Sunday, August 14.
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