A beautiful bright sunny day welcomed the players on to the pitch in front of an expectant and excited crowd. Despite the fact that no Ajax supporters were allowed to attend the atmosphere was electric. As the ADO theme song, 'Liberte,' boomed out of the speakers, the stands vibrated.

A cagey opening to the match was to be expected, the ball just be passed tightly around the midfield. Neither team cared to take control of the match in its early stages. Ajax won the first corner in the fourth minute, and as if to make a statement about the first exchanges, it was totally wasted.

The first real chance fell to Ajax in the fifteenth minute. Miralem Sulejmani hit a corner in from the right. It swung in quickly, almost deceiving Robert Zwinkels in the ADO goal, who just managed to tip the ball over to safety and a corner.

For a period of ten minutes, ADO dominated possession and made Ajax work hard to defend against surmounting pressure. Tackles became a bit more reckless as Ajax struggled to cope. Eventually a yellow card had to come and it was shown to the Ajax player Evander Sno after 30 minutes.

Thirty-five minutes in and a tussle between ADO’s Mitchell Pique and Ajax’s Leonard on the edge of the ADO penalty area left the ADO player clutching his face after Leonardo used his hand to shield himself from the close attention of the defender. As per usual, a childish melee of pushing and shoving ended in the free kick to ADO while the fans were screaming for a red card.

During the one minute of added time, ADO tried to get that first breakthrough. Two corners kicks were headed out behind, the third in quick succession was placed in the quadrant. As it was about to be taken, the referee Bjorn Kuipers blew for half time. Both players and fans were not happy and it showed.

Second half started and Ajax immediately took control. Ajax manager Marco van Basten must have rung the changes and the new formation troubled ADO for several minutes. During the early period of the second half, some of ADO’s supporters let themselves down by keeping the ball when it went into the Midden Noord. As play continued with a new ball, they kept throwing the other one on to the pitch. Back fired for the fans as ADO moved forward, the referee had to blow for a drop ball as two balls in play. On one occasion this ruined what looked to be a good break for ADO.

Sixty minutes. Urby Emanuelson crossed the ball in from the left, ADO defenders missed their headers and the ball fell to Rob Wielaert, who hit a volley bouncing into the corner of the ADO net. 0 – 1 to Ajax. Ajax was in front for only four minutes and a determined ADO team grabbed a deserved equalizer on sixty four minutes. Pressure was applied by the whole of ADO’s midfield. The ball finally reached Richard Knopper who played the ball instinctively in to the Ajax box. Surprisingly it was met by the defender Wesley Verhoek. He took two touches and swept the ball confidently in to the back of the net. Looking at his face, don’t know who was more surprised, his team mates, or him? The cheers that greeted that goal were deafening.

ADO had one more chance to win the game in the seventy eighth minute. Yet again Verhoek found himself free inside the Ajax box. Fired a shot down low towards the left hand side of the goal, only for Kenneth Vermeer in the Ajax goal to scramble the ball away for a corner kick. The final whistle blew and the ground erupted after a deserved point was gained. ADO’s players went to all corners of the stadium to thank their fans for some great support.

In the press conference after the game. ADO manager Andre Wetzel said he was proud of the way his team played. Said that The Hague should be proud, the fans should be proud and so should all the players. At the other end of the table, van Basten did not look a very happy man at all, felt as though two points were dropped by his men. I don’t think the visitor’s dressing room was a happy place to be.

The outcome was a fair one. ADO showed a lot of passion and fight, whereas Ajax showed a mix of flair and speed. A point a piece is the right result.

.Man of the Match: Wesley Verhoek

Attendance: 14, 000

Next home fixture for ADO is on Sunday, March 16, at 2:30 p.m. against NEC.

If you would like to attend this game, you can purchase a Dagkaart (Day card) during this coming week and on the match day itself from the stadium ticket office. You need to produce legitimate photo ID, either your driving licence or passport. Come along and enjoy a great atmosphere.

Neal McClimon

www.itpphotoghraphy.com

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