Elite League Cup Group Match 1, Ajax vs. Benfica (Wed Jul 30)


                                 Ajax  |  Benfica
                              4-4-2 A  |  4-4-2 P
                          James Maund  |  Steven Theobald
                                       |
                       E_Van_d_Sar GK  |  GK E_Thorstvedt
                      C_dos_Passos DF  |  DF C_Thomson
                         J_Esparza DF  |  DF J_Djourou
                            M_Hart DF  |  DF B_Bryn
                        A_Carabali DF  |  DF R_Tomassi
                         Ridoutski MF  |  MF D_Damjanovic
                        W_Sneijder MF  |  MF S_Marlet
                     Oscar_Serrano MF  |  MF P_Do_Shaw
                        C_Fabregas MF  |  MF J_Bolm
                         H_Postiga FW  |  FW K_McInally
                           Taliyah FW  |  FW S_Morison
                                       |
                          I_Walker SUB |  SUB J_Moreau
                     P_Mertesacker SUB |  SUB C_Barr
                           D_Agger SUB |  SUB Yann_M_Vila
                          S_Phelan SUB |  SUB B_Abdoulaye
                        A_Arshavin SUB |  SUB M_Maigi

Referee: S_Dougal (Scotland)


Min. 1  :(bfa) P_Do_Shaw cuts inside the defender
          ...  He sees a team mate in space
          ...  He passes it to K_McInally
          ...  C_dos_Passos reads the situation well and wins the ball
Min. 4  :(aja) H_Postiga is force to hold onto the ball
          ...  No one seems to be coming forward
          ...  He heads towards the goal alone!
          ...  H_Postiga unleashes a pile driver !
          ...  E_Thorstvedt gets the finger tips to it
          ...  And puts it over
          ...  CORNER!
          ...  C_Fabregas swings it in!
          ...  It goes straight into the arms of E_Thorstvedt
Min. 6  :(aja) C_Fabregas with the nod to H_Postiga
          ...  H_Postiga hits the ball first time!
          ...  He could have let that bounce
          ...  E_Thorstvedt gets a hand to it!!
          ...  But he picks up the rebound
          ...  OHHHHHHHH !!
          ...  It's pushed behind !
          ...  CORNER!
          ...  Ridoutski crosses it in!
          ...  H_Postiga with the shot!
          ...  The fans get off there seats!
          ...  E_Thorstvedt plucks the ball out of the air
          ...  Good goalkeeping there!
Min. 8  :(bfa) J_Djourou with a real burst of pace
          ...  He leaves A_Carabali behind
          ...  A powerful header from J_Djourou !
          ...  It looks good
          ...  But the ball goes harmlessly wide
Min. 11 :(aja) W_Sneijder plays it to his team mate for a one-two
          ...  Taliyah decides to go for goal instead!
          ...  Taliyah tries to chip the ball over E_Thorstvedt!
          ...  But he puts it over
          ...  He can't be happy with that effort
Min. 11 :(bfa) S_Marlet looks up for support for support
          ...  He spots his team mate making a run now
          ...  He plays it across to his team mate and runs forward now!
          ...  K_McInally receives the pass and heads towards the goal
          ...  K_McInally with the goal bound shot!
          ...  GOAL !!
          ...  E_Van_d_Sar looks dejected
          ...  But it's been ruled out!
          ...  What on earth for?
          ...  That looks like an appalling decision!
Min. 12 :(aja) Taliyah slows the ball down and waits for support
          ...  He spots his team mate making a run now
          ...  He plays it across to his team mate and runs forward now!
          ...  His team mate plays the through ball for him!
          ...  Taliyah with the overhead !
          ...  But it clips the post and goes wide
Min. 13 :(aja) Ridoutski with a smart pass to H_Postiga
          ...  H_Postiga hits the shot!
          ...  It swerves a lot!
          ...  But E_Thorstvedt punches it away
          ...  He commands his area so well
Min. 15 :(aja) Ridoutski runs at the defender
          ...  He gets past him!
          ...  He sees a team mate in space
          ...  He passes it to Oscar_Serrano
          ...  Oscar_Serrano tries the shot !
          ...  E_Thorstvedt guesses right
Min. 16 :(bfa) J_Djourou with a 50-yard pass to S_Morison
          ...  S_Morison with a scorcher of a shot !
          ...  But E_Van_d_Sar hits it away
          ...  He could have held onto that!
Min. 17 :(bfa) C_Thomson takes on J_Esparza
          ...  He runs past him
          ...  C_Thomson with the chance !
          ...  E_Van_d_Sar is just going to watch it go over!
          ...  It dips dramatically!!
          ...  GOAL !!
          ...  E_Van_d_Sar holds his head in his hands!
          ...  That's given Benfica the advantage!
          ...  Ajax 0-1 Benfica ...
Min. 18 :(aja) Ridoutski cuts inside C_Thomson
          ...  He worked that well
          ...  Ridoutski sends it flying towards goal!
          ...  It's gone over
          ...  Well he must have left his shooting boots at home for that one
Min. 19 :(bfa) P_Do_Shaw volleys it forward. He finds S_Morison
          ...  S_Morison has a dig at goal!
          ...  But E_Van_d_Sar reaches the ball. Good save
          ...  There was a foul on E_Van_d_Sar anyway
Min. 24 :(bfa) B_Bryn drops his shoulder and takes it past the defender
          ...  He gets past him!
          ...  He sees a team mate making a run
          ...  He plays the ball through to K_McInally
          ...  K_McInally hits the shot!
          ...  It swerves a lot!
          ...  He couldn't have struck it more sweetly!!
          ...  GOAL !!
          ...  Look at the delight on his face!
          ...  Just look at the delight!!
          ...  Ajax 0-2 Benfica ...
Min. 29 :(aja) C_Fabregas hits a hard pass to Oscar_Serrano
          ...  Oscar_Serrano aiming for the bottom corner !
          ...  But E_Thorstvedt parries the shot
          ...  The defender manages to scramble the ball away
Min. 30 :(aja) J_Esparza heads the ball back to H_Postiga
          ...  H_Postiga goes for goal !
          ...  E_Thorstvedt with an amazing dive to the bottom left
          ...  How he got to that one I don't know !
Min. 33 :(bfa) K_McInally takes on the defender
          ...  He runs past the defender
          ...  Well executed sliding challenge from C_dos_Passos
          ...  It goes out of play
          ...  CORNER!
          ...  J_Bolm drives it into the box!
          ...  E_Van_d_Sar jumps well to claim it!
Min. 34 :(aja) W_Sneijder looks around for some movement
          ...  He knocks the ball across to H_Postiga
          ...  Excellent sliding challenge from J_Djourou
Min. 34 :(bfa) P_Do_Shaw spots S_Morison who is in acres of space
          ...  S_Morison tries to beat E_Van_d_Sar!
          ...  But E_Van_d_Sar makes a fine save
          ...  Wow!! That was close!
          ...  He had to be at his best to reach that one!
Min. 36 :(aja) C_Fabregas takes advantage of a mistake by D_Damjanovic
          ...  Can he make them pay?
          ...  C_Fabregas with a thundering shot!
          ...  It hits the side netting!
          ...  He has squandered a golden opportunity
Min. 41 :(aja) C_Fabregas plays a clever one-two with his team mate
          ...  He looks around for options
          ...  He moves forward with the ball
          ...  C_Fabregas with a thundering volley!
          ...  The shot takes a wicked deflection
          ...  E_Thorstvedt dives desperately to try and save it!!
          ...  He can't get to it!
          ...  But it creeps just wide!!
          ...  The deflection had E_Thorstvedt beaten!
          ...  CORNER!
          ...  W_Sneijder hits it into the box!
          ...  B_Bryn heads it away
Min. 43 :(REF) The 4th referee signals that there are 3 minutes of time to be added on
Min. 43 :(bfa) J_Djourou is hurt
          ...  He's receiving some treatment now
          ...  He looks like he will continue
Min. 47 :(aja) C_Fabregas is taking a throw in
          ...  He sees a team mate in space
          ...  He throws it long to Taliyah
          ...  But S_Marlet puts it in row Z!

*************  HALF TIME  ****************
Half Time Score: Ajax 0-2 Benfica

Min. 50 :(aja) P_Mertesacker takes off his tracksuit
          ...  he'll replace M_Hart as DF
Min. 50 :(aja) S_Phelan is being prepared to come on
          ...  Oscar_Serrano is leaving the pitch
          ...  He applauds the crowd
          ...  Looks like his replacement will play MF
Min. 50 :(aja) A_Arshavin is going to be brought on
          ...  Taliyah is leaving the pitch
          ...  He applauds the crowd
          ...  Looks like his replacement will play FW
Min. 50 :(aja) C_dos_Passos gets to the by line and finds A_Carabali with a beautiful cross
          ...  J_Djourou hits it out for a corner
          ...  CORNER!
          ...  C_Fabregas plays it towards the near post!
          ...  E_Thorstvedt jumps well to claim it!
Min. 51 :(aja) A_Arshavin plays it forward to W_Sneijder
          ...  W_Sneijder goes for the top corner !
          ...  But E_Thorstvedt palms it behind
          ...  CORNER!
          ...  P_Mertesacker drives it into the box!
          ...  E_Thorstvedt jumps well to claim it!
Min. 51 :(bfa) D_Damjanovic retreats under pressure
          ...  He hits the ball up field
          ...  P_Do_Shaw latches onto the end of it
          ...  P_Do_Shaw with the header !
          ...  E_Van_d_Sar with a great save
          ...  He holds onto it as well!
Min. 53 :(bfa) K_McInally plays a quick one-two with his team mate
          ...  He runs towards goal now
          ...  K_McInally with an overhead kick !
          ...  He gets a connection
          ...  E_Van_d_Sar just watches it drift out of play!
Min. 55 :(aja) W_Sneijder runs down the flank
          ...  He threads the ball in to A_Arshavin
          ...  A_Arshavin tries to chip the ball over the keeper !
          ...  But E_Thorstvedt smothers the ball.
Min. 56 :(aja) C_Fabregas plays in A_Arshavin with a beautiful ball
          ...  A_Arshavin tries to curl it into the bottom corner !
          ...  E_Thorstvedt gets his fingertips to it
          ...  He pushes it on to the post
          ...  The defender clears the loose ball
Min. 58 :(aja) A_Arshavin runs at the defender
          ...  He takes it past him
          ...  R_Tomassi with the tackle
          ...  He came to the rescue there!
Min. 61 :(bfa) K_McInally finds his way through
          ...  He sets up the shot
          ...  But J_Esparza clears the ball to safety
Min. 62 :(bfa) J_Bolm loses his marker!
          ...  Ridoutski tackles from behind
          ...  There's no place in the game for that kind of challenge
          ...  RED CARD!!
          ...  S_Dougal had no choice there!!
          ...  Steven Theobald appluads the decision
Min. 63 :(bfa) C_Thomson flicks it over P_Mertesacker's head
          ...  He showed some great skill there!
          ...  S_Phelan rushes in with a clumsy tackle!!
          ...  That's a foul!!
Min. 64 :(aja) S_Phelan with the heel pass to C_dos_Passos
          ...  C_dos_Passos with the overhead !
          ...  But it whistles just past the post
Min. 65 :(bfa) D_Damjanovic sprints down the flank
          ...  He plays the ball across to S_Marlet
          ...  From long range S_Marlet bends the ball towards goal!
          ...  E_Van_d_Sar takes the ball off him
          ...  He was showing off there!
Min. 66 :(bfa) D_Damjanovic plays it to his team mate for a one-two
          ...  S_Morison decides to keep possession instead!
          ...  He runs towards the goal now!
          ...  S_Morison with the crafty shot!
          ...  But he puts it wide
          ...  He found himself with no room to manoeuvre
Min. 67 :(aja) A_Carabali whips the ball across to H_Postiga
          ...  H_Postiga hits the ball first time!
          ...  He could have let that bounce
          ...  But it's hit the defender and went out for a corner
          ...  CORNER!
          ...  C_Fabregas lofts the ball in!
          ...  E_Thorstvedt comes out and claims it!
Min. 70 :(bfa) B_Abdoulaye is going to be brought on
          ...  J_Bolm is leaving the pitch
          ...  He applauds the crowd
          ...  Looks like his replacement will play DM
Min. 72 :(aja) C_dos_Passos with an excellent first touch
          ...  He sees a team mate making a run!
          ...  He swings the ball in
          ...  W_Sneijder gets on the end of the pass
          ...  He is in space!
          ...  W_Sneijder tries to curl it into the bottom corner !
          ...  But E_Thorstvedt palms it away
          ...  He could have caught that!
Min. 72 :(bfa) P_Do_Shaw hits in a wicked shot!
          ...  It hits the defender
          ...  S_Morison latches onto it!
          ...  S_Morison tries to beat E_Van_d_Sar from outside the area!
          ...  He has failed to hit the target!
          ...  He looks horrified by that miss!
          ...  He puts his face in his hands!
Min. 76 :(bfa) Yann_M_Vila is being prepared to come on
          ...  B_Bryn is leaving the pitch
          ...  Looks like the substitute will play DF
Min. 79 :(bfa) C_Barr replaces J_Djourou and will play DF
Min. 79 :(aja) C_Fabregas unselfishly heads the ball back to A_Arshavin
          ...  Yann_M_Vila forces him off the ball
Min. 80 :(bfa) The ball is passed in from K_McInally, he finds D_Damjanovic
          ...  D_Damjanovic with the crafty shot!
          ...  But he puts it wide
          ...  How did he manage to miss that?
Min. 87 :(bfa) D_Damjanovic takes on the defender
          ...  He gets past him!
          ...  He sees a team mate making a run
          ...  He plays the ball through to K_McInally
          ...  But J_Esparza wins the ball with a sliding challenge
Min. 88 :(REF) The 4th referee signals that there are 3 minutes of time to be added on
Min. 89 :(bfa) Yann_M_Vila brings it under control
          ...  He takes on A_Carabali
          ...  He gets past him!
          ...  He puts in K_McInally!
          ...  C_dos_Passos had better start being careful if he continues to tackle like that
Min. 93 :(aja) C_Fabregas cuts through the defence
          ...  C_Fabregas with a bicycle kick !
          ...  E_Thorstvedt makes himself big and wins the ball
Min. 93 :(bfa) R_Tomassi jumps over the defender's challenge
          ...  Oh, beautiful nutmeg
          ...  He's clean through
          ...  R_Tomassi hits a crisp volley!
          ...  It's well wide!
          ...  9 times out of ten he would have scored that!

*************  FULL TIME  ****************


Match Details
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Venue                : Amsterdam Arena
Attendance           : 89,256
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ajax Match Info
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Best player          : C_Fabregas
Scorers              : N/A
Sent Off             : Ridoutski (62)
Booked               : N/A
Injured              : N/A
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benfica Match Info
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Best player          : E_Thorstvedt (Man of the Match)
Scorers              : C_Thomson (17), K_McInally (24)
Sent Off             : N/A
Booked               : N/A
Injured              : N/A
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Match Statistics
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Ajax       |     Benfica
Attempts on Goal     :          19        |       14
Off target           :           7        |       6
On target            :          12        |       8
Possession           :          43        |       57
Corners              :           6        |       1
Red Cards            :           1        |       0
Yellow Cards         :           0        |       0
Subs Used            :           3        |       3
Fouls                :          12        |       2
Key Tackles          :           4        |       5
Key Passes           :          16        |       12
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Score          : Ajax 0 - 2 Benfica
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Player Statistics - Ajax
Name          Pos  St  Tk  Ps  Sh  Ag | Min Sav Ktk Kps Ass Sht Gls Yel Red KAb TAb PAb SAb
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E_Van_d_Sar    GK  33   5   5   7  14 |  96   6   0   0   0   0   0   0   0  10   0   0   0
C_dos_Passos   DF   2  28  10   9  46 |  96   0   2   2   0   1   0   0   0   0  40  20   1
J_Esparza      DF   1  27   6   3  20 |  96   0   2   1   0   0   0   0   0   0  40  10   0
M_Hart         DF   2  27   4   1  22 |  53   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0 -20 -20 -20
A_Carabali     DF   2  26  10   7  10 |  96   0   0   1   0   0   0   0   0   0   0  10   0
Ridoutski      MF   1   5  29   4  32 |  65   0   0   2   0   1   0   0   1   0 -10  10  -9
W_Sneijder     MF   2   7  26   8  23 |  96   0   0   3   0   2   0   0   0   0   0  30  10
Oscar_Serrano  MF   2  14  25  11  19 |  53   0   0   0   0   2   0   0   0   0   0   0  10
C_Fabregas     MF   3   7  25  12  29 |  96   0   0   5   0   3   0   0   0   0   0  50   7
H_Postiga      FW   1   1   1  32  24 |  96   0   0   0   0   6   0   0   0   0   0   0  26
Taliyah        FW   2   6   6  25  44 |  53   0   0   0   0   2   0   0   0   0   0   0   2
I_Walker       GK  22   3   2   2  23 |   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
P_Mertesacker  DF   1  31   3   1  20 |  43   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0 -20 -20 -20
D_Agger        DF   2  25  11   5  24 |   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
S_Phelan       MF   3   6  27  20  36 |  43   0   0   1   0   0   0   0   0   0   0  10   0
A_Arshavin     FW   2   6   7  21  32 |  43   0   0   1   0   2   0   0   0   0   0  10  10

Player Statistics - Benfica
Name          Pos  St  Tk  Ps  Sh  Ag | Min Sav Ktk Kps Ass Sht Gls Yel Red KAb TAb PAb SAb
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E_Thorstvedt   GK  38   2   6   4  13 |  96  16   0   0   0   0   0   0   0 120   0   0   0
C_Thomson      DF   2  26  11   6  25 |  96   0   0   0   0   1   1   0   0   0   0   0  20
J_Djourou      DF   3  26   4   9  35 |  82   0   2   1   0   1   0   0   0   0  40  10   1
B_Bryn         DF   2  25   7   8  31 |  79   0   1   1   1   0   0   0   0   0  20  25   0
R_Tomassi      DF   1  24   8   6  37 |  96   0   1   0   0   1   0   0   0   0  60   0   1
D_Damjanovic   MF   3   7  26   9  42 |  96   0   0   4   0   1   0   0   0   0   0  40   1
S_Marlet       MF   2   7  25   8  22 |  96   0   1   1   0   1   0   0   0   0  20  10   5
P_Do_Shaw      MF   2   8  25   8  25 |  96   0   0   4   0   1   0   0   0   0   0  40   5
J_Bolm         MF   2  10  24  12  32 |  73   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0  20  20  20
K_McInally     FW   2   6   5  27  27 |  96   0   0   1   0   3   1   0   0   0  20  30  46
S_Morison      FW   1   2   7  26  36 |  96   0   0   0   0   5   0   0   0   0   0   0  17
J_Moreau       GK  27   1   2   2  14 |   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
C_Barr         DF   2  25  12   9  27 |  14   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
Yann_M_Vila    DF   2  24  12   7  22 |  17   0   1   0   0   0   0   0   0   0  20   0   0
B_Abdoulaye    DM   2  14  26   7  39 |  23   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
M_Maigi        FW   1   8  12  24  42 |   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
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