Elite League Cup Semi Final Match, Celtic FC vs. Ajax (Wed Jul 26)


                            Celtic FC  |  Ajax
                            4-1-3-2 A  |  5-3-2 A
                       Stuart Neilson  |  James Maund
                                       |
                         T_Flowers GK  |  GK E_Van_d_Sar
                         B_Howedes DF  |  DF D_Agger
                     Fernando_Mera DF  |  DF T_Vermaelen
                            N_Wade DF  |  DF J_Stam
                          P_A_Cocu DF  |  DF Z_Knight
                       B_Bjorksson DM  |  DF M_Van_D_Hoorn
                      D_Damjanovic MF  |  MF Granit_Xhaka
                            D_Boss MF  |  MF S_Marlet
                      A_Ben_Hatira MF  |  MF A_Ross
                       M_Phisbaena FW  |  FW B_Wolford
                         P_McGowan FW  |  FW A_Arshavin
                                       |
                        T_Courtois SUB |  SUB G_Langerak
                           K_Abrha SUB |  SUB C_Luciano
                        R_V_Persie SUB |  SUB Ridoutski
                     O_Lindenbergh SUB |  SUB Oscar_Serrano
                       I_Gabilondo SUB |  SUB Fabinhioski

Referee: J_Eriksson (Sweden)


Min. 3  :(aja) A_Arshavin takes possession
          ...  What can he do here?
          ...  A_Arshavin rises above the defence to head the ball !
          ...  But T_Flowers dives to his left
          ...  I think T_Flowers just got a hand on that one
          ...  J_Eriksson has given a goal kick
          ...  Unbelievable !
Min. 7  :(cfc) M_Phisbaena with the header on
          ...  He finds B_Howedes in space
          ...  Z_Knight rushes in with a clumsy tackle!!
          ...  That's a foul!!
          ...  What's J_Eriksson going to give?
          ...  He just waves play on!
Min. 8  :(cfc) D_Damjanovic finds P_McGowan with a perfectly weighted pass
          ...  T_Vermaelen plays the back pass
          ...  E_Van_d_Sar can't get to it!!
          ...  It goes just wide!!
          ...  Look at the relief on his face!!
          ...  CORNER!
          ...  P_McGowan floats the ball in!
          ...  E_Van_d_Sar easily catches it!
Min. 10 :(cfc) D_Boss miskicks!
          ...  He finds M_Phisbaena though
          ...  That was fortunate
          ...  T_Vermaelen read the danger and stops the pass
Min. 11 :(cfc) The ball goes loose!
          ...  P_McGowan gains possesion and thinks about the shot
          ...  P_McGowan tries to curl it into the bottom corner !
          ...  E_Van_d_Sar makes a great save
          ...  But he can't hold onto it!
Min. 11 :(aja) B_Wolford had to stretch to reach the pass
          ...  Fernando_Mera takes the player out!!
          ...  The ref turns away!!
Min. 12 :(cfc) A_Ben_Hatira unselfishly lays the ball back to Fernando_Mera
          ...  The cross hits Fernando_Mera on the butt and rebounds towards goal !
          ...  But he's put it wide
          ...  How did he manage to miss that one?!?!?
Min. 13 :(aja) A_Arshavin with a real burst of pace
          ...  He shows P_A_Cocu a clean set of heals
          ...  A_Arshavin shapes up for a shot!
          ...  He hits the post
          ...  He follows it up!
          ...  But puts it wide!
          ...  He'll be disappointed with that
Min. 17 :(aja) T_Vermaelen is out on the right
          ...  He moves the ball left to Z_Knight
          ...  Z_Knight with the deft touch!
          ...  He hits the ball towards goal!
          ...  He couldn't have hit that shot much better!!
          ...  But it thumps off the woodwork !!
          ...  And goes safely clear!
          ...  T_Flowers never had a chance!
Min. 21 :(cfc) D_Damjanovic has the ball on the wing
          ...  He takes it past D_Agger
          ...  He knocks it to P_McGowan!
          ...  P_McGowan drives it low !
          ...  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. 21 :(cfc) P_McGowan has the ball on the wing
          ...  He knocks the ball past the defender!
          ...  He has some space now!
          ...  Z_Knight with an over the top challenge
          ...  J_Eriksson calls him over
          ...  J_Eriksson is taking his time with him!
          ...  YELLOW CARD!!
Min. 23 :(aja) S_Marlet moves out wide
          ...  He plays the ball through to Granit_Xhaka
          ...  Granit_Xhaka with a blistering shot !
          ...  It hits the side netting!
          ...  He has squandered a golden opportunity
Min. 24 :(cfc) M_Phisbaena lays the ball back to D_Boss
          ...  A great volley from D_Boss !
          ...  E_Van_d_Sar is just going to watch it go over!
          ...  It dips dramatically!!
          ...  But goes just over !!
          ...  E_Van_d_Sar looks very relieved!
Min. 24 :(aja) A_Arshavin sidesteps B_Bjorksson
          ...  He's been running his marker ragged all game
          ...  Fernando_Mera plays the back pass
          ...  T_Flowers can't get to it!!
          ...  It goes just wide!!
          ...  What a lucky escape!!
          ...  CORNER!
          ...  A_Arshavin chips the ball in towards the back post!
          ...  T_Flowers fists it away!
Min. 26 :(aja) Granit_Xhaka with a reverse pass to J_Stam
          ...  M_Phisbaena with a superb challenge
          ...  J_Eriksson has given the free kick the other way!
          ...  He is ordered to cool off
Min. 26 :(aja) M_Van_D_Hoorn controls the ball with a deft piece of skill
          ...  He plays the ball out to the left!
          ...  B_Wolford gets onto the end of the pass!
          ...  B_Wolford with a little chip!
          ...  But he's missed it!
          ...  He couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo
Min. 27 :(aja) S_Marlet plays a long ball to B_Wolford
          ...  B_Howedes takes the ball and the player!!
          ...  But the ref waves play on!!
Min. 28 :(cfc) A_Ben_Hatira with a slide rule pass to P_McGowan
          ...  P_McGowan rifles it to the far post !
          ...  But E_Van_d_Sar reaches the ball. Good save
Min. 36 :(cfc) M_Phisbaena is taking a throw in
          ...  He sees a team mate loosing his marker
          ...  He throws it to P_McGowan
          ...  P_McGowan with the strike !
          ...  But E_Van_d_Sar makes a comfortable save
          ...  He gave the striker no chance
Min. 36 :(aja) Granit_Xhaka controls the ball with a deft piece of skill
          ...  He plays the ball out to the left!
          ...  S_Marlet gets onto the end of the pass!
          ...  S_Marlet leaps into the air to perform a scissors kick!!!
          ...  But T_Flowers palms it behind
          ...  J_Eriksson has given a goal kick
          ...  He's not having the best of days !
Min. 37 :(aja) Granit_Xhaka with a real burst of pace
          ...  He shows the defender a clean set of heals
          ...  A wicked drive by Granit_Xhaka !
          ...  He couldn't have hit that shot much better!!
          ...  But it thumps off the woodwork !!
          ...  And goes safely clear!
          ...  T_Flowers never had a chance!
Min. 38 :(cfc) D_Damjanovic reads the run of P_McGowan
          ...  P_McGowan hits the shot!
          ...  It swerves a lot!
          ...  E_Van_d_Sar watches it sail wide!
Min. 39 :(cfc) B_Bjorksson boots it towards N_Wade
          ...  N_Wade unleashes a pile driver !
          ...  He miskicks the ball
          ...  He's managed to put that out of the stadium
Min. 42 :(aja) B_Wolford nicks it past the slide tackle skilfully
          ...  He only has going for the goal in mind!
          ...  B_Wolford could have let it bounce!
          ...  T_Flowers collects it comfortably
          ...  The shot never troubled him
Min. 43 :(REF) The 4th official signals that there are 4 minutes of time to be added on
Min. 47 :(cfc) E_Van_d_Sar miss-kicks!
          ...  M_Phisbaena is through!
          ...  M_Phisbaena hits the ball on the bounce !
          ...  It hits the bar!!
          ...  But he picks up the rebound
          ...  OHHHHHHHH !!
          ...  He's put it wide
Min. 48 :(aja) S_Marlet looks around for some movement
          ...  He sees a man in space!
          ...  He hits the ball up to Z_Knight
          ...  A_Ben_Hatira with a bad challenge
          ...  I don't think he meant anything other than trying to get the ball
Min. 49 :(aja) C_Luciano will replace D_Agger and play DF
Min. 49 :(cfc) A_Ben_Hatira plays in M_Phisbaena with a beautiful ball
          ...  M_Phisbaena has his eyes on the goal!
          ...  He fires the ball goal ward!
          ...  It's beaten E_Van_d_Sar
          ...  It goes wide !!

*************  HALF TIME  ****************
Half Time Score: Celtic FC 0-0 Ajax

Min. 48 :(cfc) N_Wade jinks infield
          ...  He sees a team mate making a run
          ...  He plays the ball through to P_A_Cocu
          ...  P_A_Cocu aims for the top right corner !
          ...  But he puts it over
          ...  He can't be happy with that effort
Min. 49 :(cfc) A_Ben_Hatira sprints down the flank
          ...  He threads the ball in to N_Wade
          ...  But C_Luciano spotted the danger and cleans up the play
Min. 50 :(aja) a big roar from the crowd as Ridoutski comes on for A_Ross to play MF
Min. 50 :(aja) S_Marlet off the woodwork.
          ...  J_Stam picks up the deflection
          ...  J_Stam drives it towards goal !
          ...  T_Flowers saves, but he fumbles
          ...  But he gathers at the second attempt!
Min. 51 :(aja) Fabinhioski replaces an unhappy B_Wolford and will play as a FW
Min. 55 :(cfc) A_Ben_Hatira with an in swinging cross to M_Phisbaena
          ...  C_Luciano tackles cleanly
          ...  The linesman flags for the foul though! Unbelievable! It looked clean to me
          ...  He gets a YELLOW CARD!!
Min. 57 :(cfc) B_Bjorksson 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 M_Phisbaena
          ...  Good sliding challenge from M_Van_D_Hoorn
          ...  It goes out of play
          ...  CORNER!
          ...  D_Boss crosses it in!
          ...  E_Van_d_Sar easily claims the ball!
Min. 57 :(aja) Ridoutski floats the ball in to find Fabinhioski
          ...  B_Bjorksson muscles him off the ball
          ...  Looked like a good tackle but the referee has awarded them a free kick
          ...  He is fortunate to be given just a warning
Min. 60 :(cfc) O_Lindenbergh is going to be brought on
          ...  D_Boss is leaving the pitch
          ...  He applauds the crowd
          ...  Looks like his replacement will play AM
Min. 60 :(cfc) A_Ben_Hatira takes possession
          ...  He runs towards goal
          ...  A_Ben_Hatira with the crafty shot!
          ...  He couldn't have hit that shot much better!!
          ...  But it sails past the post !!
          ...  E_Van_d_Sar never had a chance!
Min. 64 :(cfc) D_Damjanovic runs down the flank
          ...  He plays the ball across to M_Phisbaena
          ...  M_Phisbaena with the crafty shot!
          ...  It's way wide
          ...  The Ajax fans behind the goal spread their arms out
Min. 65 :(cfc) O_Lindenbergh sidesteps T_Vermaelen
          ...  O_Lindenbergh rifles it at the goal !
          ...  E_Van_d_Sar saves it
          ...  Good goalkeeping
Min. 67 :(cfc) B_Bjorksson with a smart pass to M_Phisbaena
          ...  M_Phisbaena has time and space!
          ...  He tries the lob!
          ...  E_Van_d_Sar beats the ball away
Min. 70 :(cfc) I_Gabilondo is coming on for M_Phisbaena and will play FW
Min. 72 :(aja) J_Stam takes advantage of a bad back pass from B_Howedes
          ...  J_Stam keeps his head down as he hits the shot!
          ...  GOAL !!
          ...  T_Flowers was left standing
          ...  That's given Ajax the lead!
          ...  Celtic FC 0-1 Ajax ...
Min. 73 :(cfc) The assistant manager is out on the touchline shouting orders
          ...  It seems Celtic FC will now be playing C
Min. 73 :(aja) The Ajax manager shouts at them from the touchline to play C
Min. 73 :(aja) Ridoutski beats one
          ...  Knocks it past a second
          ...  And finds Fabinhioski
          ...  B_Howedes read the danger and stops the pass
Min. 76 :(cfc) R_V_Persie comes on for B_Howedes and takes up a DF role
Min. 76 :(cfc) P_McGowan knocks the ball past the lunge of M_Van_D_Hoorn
          ...  M_Van_D_Hoorn with an ugly foul
          ...  There's no place in the game for that kind of challenge
Min. 78 :(cfc) R_V_Persie has the ball on the wing
          ...  He knocks the ball past J_Stam
          ...  He puts in I_Gabilondo!
          ...  M_Van_D_Hoorn gets the foot in to win the ball
          ...  It rolls out of play
          ...  CORNER!
          ...  R_V_Persie hits it into the box!
          ...  E_Van_d_Sar makes the catch!
Min. 79 :(cfc) D_Damjanovic backtracks with the ball
          ...  He hits the ball up field
          ...  O_Lindenbergh latches onto the end of it
          ...  A scorcher of a shot from O_Lindenbergh !
          ...  It grazes the bar
          ...  And goes over
          ...  Oh so close there!
Min. 88 :(REF) The board goes up indicating that there are 3 minutes of time to be added on
Min. 88 :(cfc) A_Ben_Hatira finds his way through
          ...  He has tremendous pace
          ...  A_Ben_Hatira with a powerful downward header!
          ...  E_Van_d_Sar parries it, he follows it up
          ...  And E_Van_d_Sar recovers to save!!
Min. 89 :(aja) A_Arshavin finds himself in a good position
          ...  Wonderful sliding challenge by I_Gabilondo
Min. 90 :(aja) S_Marlet is closed down
          ...  He plays a quick pass under pressure
          ...  Fabinhioski latches onto the ball
          ...  Fabinhioski aiming for the bottom corner !
          ...  But T_Flowers comes out and dives at his feet
          ...  That's goalkeeping at its finest
Min. 93 :(cfc) R_V_Persie with the dribble
          ...  The defender is easily beaten
          ...  R_V_Persie with only one thing on his mind!
          ...  He hits the ball towards goal!
          ...  But E_Van_d_Sar makes a fine save
          ...  Wow!! That was close!
          ...  He had to be at his best to reach that one!

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


Match Details
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Venue                : Estádio do Dragãos
Attendance           : 147,675
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Celtic FC Match Info
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Best player          : A_Ben_Hatira
Scorers              : N/A
Sent Off             : N/A
Booked               : N/A
Injured              : N/A
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ajax Match Info
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Best player          : J_Stam (Man of the Match)
Scorers              : J_Stam (72)
Sent Off             : N/A
Booked               : Z_Knight (21), C_Luciano (55)
Injured              : N/A
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Match Statistics
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Celtic FC     |      Ajax
Attempts on Goal     :          18        |       11
Off target           :          10        |       5
On target            :           8        |       6
Possession           :          54        |       46
Corners              :           3        |       1
Red Cards            :           0        |       0
Yellow Cards         :           0        |       2
Subs Used            :           3        |       3
Fouls                :          12        |       13
Key Tackles          :           5        |       6
Key Passes           :          19        |       10
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Score          : Celtic FC 0 - 1 Ajax
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Player Statistics - Celtic FC
Name          Pos  St  Tk  Ps  Sh  Ag | Min Sav Ktk Kps Ass Sht Gls Yel Red KAb TAb PAb SAb
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T_Flowers      GK  39   2   2   1  27 |  97   6   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
B_Howedes      DF   2  31  10   8  23 |  80   0   2   0   0   0   0   0   0   0  40   0   0
Fernando_Mera  DF   3  30   9   8  27 |  97   0   2   0   0   1   0   0   0   0  40   0   1
N_Wade         DF   2  30   9   6  25 |  97   0   0   1   0   1   0   0   0   0   0  10   1
P_A_Cocu       DF   2  28   7  10  30 |  97   0   0   0   0   1   0   0   0   0   0   0   1
B_Bjorksson    DM   2  10  29   7  31 |  97   0   0   3   0   0   0   0   0   0   0  30   0
D_Damjanovic   MF   2   9  31   8  47 |  97   0   0   5   0   0   0   0   0   0   0  50   0
D_Boss         MF   1   9  29  12  32 |  64   0   0   1   0   1   0   0   0   0   0  10   1
A_Ben_Hatira   MF   2   6  29   8  40 |  97   0   0   5   0   2   0   0   0   0   0  50   6
M_Phisbaena    FW   2   9  13  32  32 |  74   0   0   3   0   4   0   0   0   0   0  30   8
P_McGowan      FW   2   9   8  32  16 |  97   0   0   0   0   5   0   0   0   0   0   0  21
T_Courtois     GK  27   1   2   3  22 |   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
K_Abrha        DF   1  28   9   6  33 |   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
R_V_Persie     DF   2   9  27  13  31 |  17   0   0   1   0   1   0   0   0   0 -20 -10 -15
O_Lindenbergh  AM   1   8  23   9  32 |  33   0   0   0   0   2   0   0   0   0   0   0   6
I_Gabilondo    FW   2   7   8  27  29 |  23   0   1   0   0   0   0   0   0   0  20   0   0

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  39   5   5   7  14 |  97  11   0   0   0   0   0   0   0  95   0   0   0
D_Agger        DF   2  29  12   5  24 |  49   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
T_Vermaelen    DF   2  26   8   6  31 |  97   0   2   1   0   0   0   0   0   0  40  10   0
J_Stam         DF   2  26   8   6  29 |  97   0   0   0   0   2   1   0   0   0   0   0  25
Z_Knight       DF   1  25   9   5  27 |  97   0   1   0   0   1   0   1   0   0  38  18  19
M_Van_D_Hoorn  DF   1  25   8   8  33 |  97   0   2   1   0   0   0   0   0   0  80  10   0
Granit_Xhaka   MF   1  10  29   7  21 |  97   0   0   2   0   2   0   0   0   0   0  20   2
S_Marlet       MF   2   8  29   8  22 |  97   0   0   4   0   1   0   0   0   0   0  40   5
A_Ross         MF   1   3  29   2  36 |  54   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
B_Wolford      FW   1  11  14  27  28 |  55   0   0   0   0   2   0   0   0   0   0   0   6
A_Arshavin     FW   2   6   8  25  32 |  97   0   0   0   0   2   0   0   0   0   0   0   6
G_Langerak     GK  27   2   2   6  23 |   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
C_Luciano      DF   2  25   7   7  31 |  48   0   1   0   0   0   0   1   0   0  18  -2  -2
Ridoutski      MF   1   5  33   4  32 |  43   0   0   2   0   0   0   0   0   0  20  40  20
Oscar_Serrano  MF   2  16  28  12  19 |   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
Fabinhioski    FW   2   7  12  27  33 |  42   0   0   0   0   1   0   0   0   0   0   0   5
1501100773 Produced from ESMS+ V3.35