Daily Archives: May 16, 2011

Ajax 3-1 Twente: Ajax win title in last day drama


“Ajax needed to win to clinch the title, Twente needed just a draw – but Frank de Boer’s side emerged victorious. The Ajax manager named an unchanged 4-3-3 side from the one that beat Herenveen last weekend. Michel Preud’Homme’s selection was also unchanged from the previous weekend’s 4-0 thrashing of Willem II.” Zonal Marking

Ajax 3 – 1 Twente: Eredivisie decided in fantastic final
“A home victory over title rivals Twente meant that Frank de Boer’s Ajax secured the 30th Eredivisie title in the club’s history. Both title contenders faced each other on the final match day with Ajax needing a win for the title. And just one week after losing the Dutch Cup final to Twente in overtime, Ajax managed a 3-1 win in a tight and very exciting match that was ultimately decided by small tactical adaptations, which become clear when comparing this match to the Cup final.” 11 tegen 11

We won it 30 times!
“I still can’t believe what happened yesterday. I woke up this morning and thought that I had a beautiful dream last night. But it’s not a dream. It’s reality. Ajax are champions of Holland. For the 30th time in their history. It’s actually too good to be true. When I watch videos of the boys celebrating it feels unreal. It’s a dream that came true.” World of Ajax

Barca back-ups draw blank

“A second-string Barcelona side were held to a goalless draw by relegation-threatened Deportivo La Coruna in the penultimate round of Primera Division matches at the Nou Camp. The league title was wrapped up with a draw at Levante on Wednesday night and, with a Champions League final meeting with Manchester United to come at the end of the month, coach Pep Guardiola named an experimental side.” ESPN

FC Barcelona v Deportivo La Coruna – Preview, Prediction, TV Listings, and Betting Odds – La Liga
The 90th Minute

Long journey pays off for Pedroza


“The fascinating 51-year history of the Copa Libertadores has now been further enriched by the emergence of a goalscorer born in England. Antonio Pedroza’s journey has taken him from Chester to Chiapas, the town of his birth to the region in the south of Mexico where he now plays as a striker for Jaguares. The son of a Mexican father and an English mother, Pedroza ensured that the club’s debut campaign in the Libertadores got off to a good start when, just before his 20th birthday, he scored in both legs of their qualifying match against Alianza Lima of Peru.” BBC – Tim Vickery

Retro Missile-by-Missile

“‘All referees are good, and all are bad. A referee only needs to make one mistake, or an assumed mistake, against a club and if he lives till he is a hundred he never gets over it.’ So said Charles Sutcliffe, former referee and president of the Football League, d. 1939. Yep, 1939. And you thought your contempt for officials was all modern and shit. Tsk.” Run of Play