Wednesday September 14, 2011 Group Stage: Group D Finished Amsterdam ArenA

Ajax 0 - 0 Olympique Lyon

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  1. Ajax and Lyon draw blanks

    Ajax and Lyon draw blanks

    Neither Ajax nor Lyon could break the deadlock as a tight contest ended 0-0 in Group G of the Champions League at the Amsterdam Arena. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Ajax
    • Olympique Lyon
    • 90' Thanks for joining us this evening here on Eurosport for this Champions League clash. We hope to see you again soon.
    • 90' Both teams will be rueing missed opportunities and will feel they could have won it, but are forced to settle for a point.
    • 90' There is the final whistle and it has finished 0-0 between these two great clubs
    • 90+2' Vertonghen sends a ball long into the area but no one is there and they have all but run out of time now
    • 90+1' Ajax seem to have run out of ideas completely here, they are still plugging away but still can't find a way through
    • 90' There is going to be two minutes added on.
    • 89' Another change for Lyon as Fofana replaces Gonalons
    • 88' GREAT CHANCE FOR LYON!!! Van der Wiel slips in defence giving Briand a run on goal, but the full back recovers so quickly and makes a fine challenge as Briand was pulling the trigger. It falls to Bastos though who skips past the onrushing Vermeer but the keeper also recovers well and dives to palm the ball away from the Brazilian
    • 87' Off goes Sulejmani for Ebecilio
    • 86' Really good run from the right into the centre from Briand, he is eventually dispossessed but it falls nicely for Grenier, his curling effort lookd good but just dropped over the crossbar, unlucky
    • 85' On comes Belfodil for the wasteful Gomis, he has been pretty poor tonight
    • 84' Grenier breaks well for Lyon and slides in Gomis on the right of the box, his strike is really poor though and so bad that the referee gives a corner when in fact it didn't hit anyone
    • 83' Ajax still struggling to find a route through, Boilesen ends their latest spell of possession with a poor pass
    • 82' On comes Dmitri Bulykin for Sigthórsson with a huge cheer from the home fans
    • 81' Good corner from Kallstrom which Vermeer didn't deal with but his defence just about did, the danger is averted.
    • 80' Lyon with a foray forward with Réveillère and his cross is deflected behind for a corner
    • 79' Anita the latest to have a go from range as it sat up nicely for him from 30 yards, but it is well over
    • 78' Alderweireld has a pop from the free-kick but it is pretty woeful and straight into the wall
    • 77' Sigthórsson wins a free-kick as Gonalons goes through the back of him 25 yards from goal
    • 76' GREAT CHANCE FOR SULEJMANI!!! Really sloppy stuff from Gomis as he gives the ball away to Sigthorssen and he and Sulejmani are two on one at the back, the latter is rolled in to be one on one with the keeper but prods it straight at him, poor finishing.
    • 75' Gomis jumps for a high ball with Alderweireld and catches the defender with a flailing arm, it wasn't intentional but gets a booking for the dangerous nature of it.
    • 74' Better stuff from Lyon as they enjoy a prolonged spell of possession for the first time in a while, it doesn't get them far though as like they have done to Ajax all night, they are closed out
    • 73' Another corner for Ajax is swung into the near post, not convincing from Lloris but he scrambles it away with the help of Kone
    • 72' The corner is easily defended but Ajax are well on top here, they are pressing hard
    • 71' Boerrigter is slid in down the left channel and Reveillere was the wrong side but just about managed to poke the ball behind for a corner
    • 70' Theo Janssen goes off to be replaced by Vernon Anita
    • 69' Eriksen continues to struggle in finding the final ball, good build up but he gives it away very easily on the edge of the box.
    • 68' Boilesen gets forward and wins a corner, Janssen again delivers but it is well dealt with and put out for a throw-in to Ajax
    • 67' Kallstrom playing with fire a bit as he catches Sulejmani late when he is on a yellow card, he avoids a second card, narrowly
    • 66' It is all Ajax now, they look to get forward again, but at the start of a promising attack Lovren hacks down Sigthorssen late and is booked for it.
    • 65' From the resulting Janssen corner, Sigthorsson gets up well but his header is too near to Lloris who saves easily.
    • 64' GREAT SAVE FROM LLORIS!!!! Good work from Ajax sees Van der Wiel skip away from Cissokho and slide it to Eriksen on the edge of the box, his curling effort was headed for the top corner but Lloris flies to his right and tips it behind.
    • 63' The first real action getting forward for the home team has got the crowd going again, will this pick up the pace of De Boer's side?
    • 62' Much better from Ajax after they had been under pressure, they get forward at pace from the back and Vertonghen had carried on his run to get on the end of a Sulejmani ball, his shot from just inside the box is scuffed though and easy for the keeper
    • 61' Kallstrom with a whipped in cross but it is very close to Vermeer and he makes no mistake in claiming it.
    • 60' The French team win another corner off Boilesen as Briand again gets to the bye-line on the right
    • 59' Grenier's corner is just about dealt with by Vermeer, throw-in to Lyon
    • 58' Briand with good work on the right and lays it back to Kallstrom on the edge of the box, he tries to curl one to the far corner and it is deflected behind for a corner
    • 57' Van der Wiel is playing more and more advanced on the right as they try and find some gaps in the Lyon defence, it is very congested up there though and it may not be helping.
    • 56' Nothing in it at the minute, Ajax are still having the better of the ball, but again it is Lyon who look more dangerous with their pace on the counter attack
    • 55' The clearance sets Janssen off on a counter attack anf Kallstrom unceremoniously hacks him down before any danger arrives, he rightly is booked for that
    • 54' The resulting corner is nodded behind by De Jong and the second is well cleared
    • 53' GREAT CHANCE FOR BASTOS!!! Gonalons does well to win the ball from Eriksen in midfield and charges forward, playing in Bastos on the left who had got away from Van der Wiel, he was in on goal but Vermeer stands up well and keeps his effort out.
    • 52' The ball isn't cleared well by Ajax though and it breaks to Gomis on the edge of the box, his shot is blocked and it falls to Grenier who also has a shot blocked, good solid defending.
    • 51' Kallstrom has a sight of goal from a long way out and his volley is mis-hit and rolls an embarrassingly long way wide
    • 50' More good work from Boilesen as he slides Eriksen in in the inside left channel, his cross was far too lofted though and easy for Lloris to claim.
    • 49' The resulting throw is to Boilesen who swings it in and it very nearly falls to Sulejmani, it just skips away from him at the last minute though and it is hacked away.
    • 48' Janssen angles a pass towards Boerrigter on the edge of the box, Reveillere is up well to head it away though and out for a throw.
    • 47' Bright start from Lyon as they show good intent, Grenier getting to the bye-line and getting a low cross in but Vermeer is down well to gobble it up.
    • 46' Lyon get us going in the second half
    • 45' There have been chances for both sides, but Lyon have without doubt had the better of them, despite Ajax dominating possession.
    • 45' The referee doesn't allow any added time and the first half comes to a close.
    • 45' High ball into the box from the right towards Sigthorsson, it isn't properly dealt with and the striker nearly gets a shot away before Kone gets a good block in.
    • 44' Ajax take the sting out of things again with their steady passing game, it is very controlled, but again has no pace to it.
    • 43' Grenier swings it in but the referee spots a push by Gonalons and a free-kick to the home team is given.
    • 42' Lyon having a good spell here, Briand gets to the right bye-line, his cross is a bit heavy but Van der Wiel is forced to knock it behind for a corner.
    • 41' Kallstrom's cross is poor but also badly cleared, straight to Grenier on the edge of the box, his effort was heading for the bottom corner but just deflected wide by Eriksen.
    • 40' Grenier breaks well for Lyon down the right, Janssen slides in hard on him by the corner flag, he probably won the ball but his right foot swung into the back of Grenier's legs as well and a free-kick is given.
    • 39' Janssen again with the cross to the near post, Vertonghen wins it but can't flick it on target, it goes wide.
    • 38' Janssen rolls it square for Vertonghen to strike, it isn't a great one though, but is defleted behind for a corner.
    • 37' Siem de Jong skips away from Kallstrom 35 yards from goal and he is tripped by the Swede, free-kick Ajax.
    • 36' WHAT A CHANCE!!! Well I spoke too soon there, Sigthorsson does well on the left flank, cutting back on his right and picking out Sulejmani on the edge of the six yard box with a great cross, Sulejmani's header has good power but no accuracy and flies wide of the post. He should definitely have scored there.
    • 35' Whether Ajax will be happy with this situation or not is hard to say, they are having the better of the ball that is for sure, but they don't look like scoring at all at the moment.
    • 34' The ball is played into Sulejmani with his back to goal, he tries to roll Lovren but ends up just shoving him over, free-kick to Lyon on the edge of their own box.
    • 33' A bit of pace is injected by Boerrigter down the left and he whips in a cross, it is behind all its targets though, Sulejmani tries an overhead kick but didn't really get near it.
    • 32' Ajax getting on the ball again as they were previously, but again it is fairly aimless knocking the ball around just inside the Lyon half.
    • 31' Janssen swings in another corner which Alderweireld rises to meet, he wins it with ease but his header is poor and well wide.
    • 30' Ajax get forward for the first time in a while and Kone bizarrely gives away a corner as instead of clearing it he dummies and lets it run out, strange defending.
    • 29' More threat from Lyon as Reveillere overlaps down the right, he is too quick for his team mates though as there is no one in the middle and Vermeer claims the cross easily.
    • 28' Cissokho seems to be able to get down the right and put crosses in at will, he has great pace but hasn't quite been able to pick out his man in the the middle as yet.
    • 27' Ajax have lost their dominance completely here, Lyon beginning to dominate the possession and they are the only side to be creating anything in front of goal.
    • 26' Lyon fancy their chances now as they continue to create chances. Gomis slides the ball across the edge of the box to Bastos, again cutting in onto his left foot from the right, his first time effort is well over the bar though.
    • 25' Ajax give the ball away and again Bastos breaks at serious pace, this time down the right, he cuts in onto his favoured left foot though on the edge of the box and unleashes an effort, it slides wide of the near post though. Another good chance.
    • 24' Lyon continue to get 10 men behind the ball, just leaving Gomis up top and Ajax are not playing at anything like the tempo needed to break them down.
    • 23' It is becoming a similar story for Ajax on the edge of the Lyon box, the French team are defending in numbers and leaving the home side very little room to play in, they haven't quite produced the invention needed to break them down yet.
    • 22' Another great chance for Gomis!! Briand holds up play well on the edge of the box and Gomis made a good diagonal run to the right of the box, he tried to fire it back to the far post but it was two yards wide, he should have at least hit the target.
    • 21' Ajax have been impressive so far, but it isn't clear where they will break through this Lyon back line, the visitors have had the one real chance so far.
    • 20' Ajax haven't been rattled by that Lyon chance and continue to dominate possession and territory, Boilesen does well again, breaking to the bye-line but his cross is easily dealt with by Lloris.
    • 19' Sulejmani has been very good early on but he just produced one of the most blatant dives you are likely to see, lucky to avoid a booking.
    • 18' WHAT A CHANCE!!!! The break is of great pace and quality from Michel Bastos as he gets down the left and with the Dutch defence out of position picked out Gomis unmarked six yards out but his volley was straight into the ground and bounced over, really poor effort.
    • 17' Janssen's cross is well dealt with and punched clear setting Lyon off on the break.
    • 16' Boerrigter breaks to the bye-line on the left, his cross is deep and Cissokho is forced to turn it behind for a corner.
    • 15' Boilesen looks a really good footballer at left back for Ajax, he has advanced well with the ball so far and all his passing has been crisp and to feet.
    • 14' Ajax straight back on the attack with Sulejmani on the right flank, more good interplay on the edge of the box from the Dutch but they can't quite find the penetration and they run out of space.
    • 13' Grenier is brought down on the right wing and Kallstrom floats it into the box, it is headed clear, but only as far as Kone on the edge of the box and he tries an acrobatic scissors kick that is only just wide of the left hand post.
    • 12' Again it is the delivery of Janssen that finds Boerrigter at the near post, but again his header is just wide.
    • 11' Ajax are certainly taking control of the early stages as they begin to get their fames passing game going, Boerrigter eventually bursts into the area on the left, his cross is cut out for another corner.
    • 10' Janssen sends a great ball down the inside left challenge for Boerrigter to chase, Lloris is quickly out of his area though and makes the clearance. He had to be decisive there.
    • 9' Really bright start to the game. Nice movement from Lyon allows Gonalons some space 25 yards from goal, he tries the shot but doesn't catch it right and it rolls well wide.
    • 8' This is good stuff from Ajax here as Eriksen skips past Lovren with a nutmeg and gets a shot away from 20 yards but the shot is badly pulled wide.
    • 7' Lovren with another poor clearance from the home side and Sulejmani burst into the area, his touch just lets him down though and Kone closes him out.
    • 6' The corner swung into the near post and Boerrigter fot his head to it and it looked like it had nestled in the corner of the net for a second but it was just the side netting.
    • 5' First corner of the match as Van Der Wiel overlaps Sulejmani and whips in a cross but it is blocked and goes behind.
    • 4' Neither time has settled into a pattern of play yet, the ball hasn't been brought down and knocked around in the fashion you would expect from these two.
    • 3' Similarly a mistake on the edge of their own box from Veronghen as he slips in possession, Gomis gets on the ball but he is quickly closed down and the ball is hacked away.
    • 2' Sloppy stuff there from Lloris as he sends a wayward pass straight to Sulejmani on the edge of the box, he tries to slide in Sigthorsson but it is blocked, luckily for the goalkeeper.
    • 1' First free-kick of the game is given as Suelmani tries to block a Cissokho clearance but just catches the full-back with his studs, looked a painful one.
    • 19.45 Ajax get the game underway to a mighty roar.
    • 19.42 It is hugely experienced German referee Wolfgang Stark who is officiating tonight. In his last Bundesliga appearance in the contest between Leverkusen and Bortmund he booked five players and sent off two.
    • 19.40 The atmosphere in the Amsterdam Arena is quite something as the fans wave their white flags as one, just five minutes ahead of kick-off.
    • 19.35 Ajax boss Frank de Boer won the club's first league title for seven years last season, but this is his full season in charge and along with assistant manager Dennis Bergkamp, their first full tilt at the Champions League.
    • 19.30 The home team are unchanged from their 3-2 win away at Heracles Almelo on Saturday when goals from De Jong (2) and Sulejmani were the difference. Lyon have made one change from their 2-1 win at Dijon as Clement Grenier comes in and Jeremy Pied drops to the bench.
    • 19.25 Ajax have a good record against French teams as they have played them 18 times in total, winning 10 of them, drawing two and losing six. Lyon's history against Dutch sides is not bad but not as impressive as they have won four of their eight games, drawn two and lost two.
    • 19.20 Lyon have been in each of the last 10 editions of the Champions League whereas Ajax have failed to reach the group stages of the competition five times in the last 10 years.
    • 19.15 Ajax's three-pronged attack of Miralem Sulejmani, Kolbeinn Sigthórsson and Derk Boerrigter have been in lethal form so far this season, scoring 11 goals in the opening five league games between them. With Christian Eriksen, Siem de Jong and Theo Janssen all getting on the scoresheet from midfield already this campaign as well, Lyon will have to deal with assaults from all angles.
    • 19.10 Both teams have played five fixtures in their respective league this season. Ajax top the Eredivisie with four wins and a draw, whereas Lyon sit second in Ligue 1 and they are similarly unbeaten, but with three wins and two draws.
    • 19.05 These two teams have only met twice before, in the group stages of the 2002/03 edition of the UEFA Champions League. The Dutch side prevailed on both occassions, winning 2-0 in Lyon with goals from Pienaar and Van der Vaart and then 2-1 at home thanks to a brace from Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
    • 19.00 Group D will be a competitive one as joining these two are Real Madrid and Dinamo Zagreb. Obviously the Spanish giants will be favourites to top the table, but this match could go a long way to see who will compete for the other qualifying spot. The Croats are potentially the spoilers in the group.
    • 18.55 The teams are in: Ajax: Vermeer, Van der Wiel, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Boilesen, De Jong, Janssen, Eriksen, Sulejmani, Sigthorsson, Boerrigter /// Lyon: Lloris, Kone, Lovren, Reveillere, Cissokho, Kallstrom, Grenier, Bastos, Gonalons, Gomis, Briand
    • 18.50 Good evening and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the clash between Ajax and Lyon at the Ambsterdam Arena from Group D of the Champions League.

  • Summary

    • 88' GREAT CHANCE FOR LYON!!! Van der Wiel slips in defence giving Briand a run on goal, but the full back recovers so quickly and makes a fine challenge as Briand was pulling the trigger. It falls to Bastos though who skips past the onrushing Vermeer but the keeper also recovers well and dives to palm the ball away from the Brazilian
    • 86' Really good run from the right into the centre from Briand, he is eventually dispossessed but it falls nicely for Grenier, his curling effort lookd good but just dropped over the crossbar, unlucky
    • 76' GREAT CHANCE FOR SULEJMANI!!! Really sloppy stuff from Gomis as he gives the ball away to Sigthorssen and he and Sulejmani are two on one at the back, the latter is rolled in to be one on one with the keeper but prods it straight at him, poor finishing.
    • 65' From the resulting Janssen corner, Sigthorsson gets up well but his header is too near to Lloris who saves easily.
    • 64' GREAT SAVE FROM LLORIS!!!! Good work from Ajax sees Van der Wiel skip away from Cissokho and slide it to Eriksen on the edge of the box, his curling effort was headed for the top corner but Lloris flies to his right and tips it behind.
    • 62' Much better from Ajax after they had been under pressure, they get forward at pace from the back and Vertonghen had carried on his run to get on the end of a Sulejmani ball, his shot from just inside the box is scuffed though and easy for the keeper
    • 53' GREAT CHANCE FOR BASTOS!!! Gonalons does well to win the ball from Eriksen in midfield and charges forward, playing in Bastos on the left who had got away from Van der Wiel, he was in on goal but Vermeer stands up well and keeps his effort out.
    • 41' Kallstrom's cross is poor but also badly cleared, straight to Grenier on the edge of the box, his effort was heading for the bottom corner but just deflected wide by Eriksen.
    • 39' Janssen again with the cross to the near post, Vertonghen wins it but can't flick it on target, it goes wide.
    • 36' WHAT A CHANCE!!! Well I spoke too soon there, Sigthorsson does well on the left flank, cutting back on his right and picking out Sulejmani on the edge of the six yard box with a great cross, Sulejmani's header has good power but no accuracy and flies wide of the post. He should definitely have scored there.
    • 25' Ajax give the ball away and again Bastos breaks at serious pace, this time down the right, he cuts in onto his favoured left foot though on the edge of the box and unleashes an effort, it slides wide of the near post though. Another good chance.
    • 22' Another great chance for Gomis!! Briand holds up play well on the edge of the box and Gomis made a good diagonal run to the right of the box, he tried to fire it back to the far post but it was two yards wide, he should have at least hit the target.
    • 18' WHAT A CHANCE!!!! The break is of great pace and quality from Michel Bastos as he gets down the left and with the Dutch defence out of position picked out Gomis unmarked six yards out but his volley was straight into the ground and bounced over, really poor effort.
    • 13' Grenier is brought down on the right wing and Kallstrom floats it into the box, it is headed clear, but only as far as Kone on the edge of the box and he tries an acrobatic scissors kick that is only just wide of the left hand post.
    • 12' Again it is the delivery of Janssen that finds Boerrigter at the near post, but again his header is just wide.
    • 6' The corner swung into the near post and Boerrigter fot his head to it and it looked like it had nestled in the corner of the net for a second but it was just the side netting.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      7.7 6
      Defenders
      8.2 6
      7.6 6
      8 6
      7.8 6
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out70′ 7.6 6
      8.2 6
      8.2 6
      Strikers
      Substitution Out85′ 8.2 7
      7.6 6
      Substitution Out81′ 7.6 6
      Subs
      Substitution In81′ 6.8 4
      Substitution In70′ 6.8 5
      Substitution In85′ 6.8 4
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      8.1 8
      Defenders
      5.5 6
      6.1 7
      Yellow Card 5.6 7
      4.8 6
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out90′ 5.3 7
      4.9 6
      Yellow Card 6.1 6
      Strikers
      5.1 8
      4.5 7
      Yellow Card Substitution Out85′ 4.6 6
      Subs
      Substitution In90′ 4 4
      Substitution In85′ 3.3 4

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