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Ajax Coach van Basten Praises Fiorentina’s Strength & Character
The Dutch master has complimented his Italian counterparts despite eliminating them from the UEFA Cup last night...
| Bet: | Returns: | Bologna £26.25 | Draw £31.00 | Fiorentina £27.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Bologna £26.00 | Draw £31.00 | Fiorentina £28.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Bologna £27.50 | Draw £30.00 | Fiorentina £27.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Bologna £28.50 | Draw £31.00 | Fiorentina £27.70 |
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Feb 27, 2009 12:29:03 AM
Ajax stunned Fiorentina in the first leg of their UEFA Cup tie last week in Italy, as they took a 1-0 victory back home with them for the return clash in Amsterdam. Anything but a defeat would have been enough for them to secure their passage to the next phase of the competition and that was precisely what they achieved.
After conceding the first goal of the second leg on 61 minutes, when Alberto Gilardino found the back of the net for the Italians, the match seemed to be heading for extra time. However, substitute Leonardo made the Viola pay at the death by netting the all-important equaliser on 88 minutes.
The 1-1 draw meant that Ajax advanced 2-1 on aggregate, despite being outplayed and outclassed for the large majority of both legs. Their coach Marco van Basten was certainly aware of this fact, and he made it clear in his post-match interview.
“We were really lucky to go through, because Fiorentina dominated the game,” Van Basten was quoted as saying by Tuttomercatoweb.
“We were in trouble because they were smarter and more intelligent when in possession of the ball.
“All we could do was limit the amount of damage done, and hope that something came our way, as it eventually did.
“Fiorentina were also physically stronger than us, however I took a risk at the end by introducing Leonardo, and it paid off,” the coach concluded.
Ajax will now face Marseille in the next stage of the competition, whilst Fiorentina will return to domestic duties hoping to secure Champions League football for next term.
Adrian Del Monte
After conceding the first goal of the second leg on 61 minutes, when Alberto Gilardino found the back of the net for the Italians, the match seemed to be heading for extra time. However, substitute Leonardo made the Viola pay at the death by netting the all-important equaliser on 88 minutes.
The 1-1 draw meant that Ajax advanced 2-1 on aggregate, despite being outplayed and outclassed for the large majority of both legs. Their coach Marco van Basten was certainly aware of this fact, and he made it clear in his post-match interview.
“We were really lucky to go through, because Fiorentina dominated the game,” Van Basten was quoted as saying by Tuttomercatoweb.
“We were in trouble because they were smarter and more intelligent when in possession of the ball.
“All we could do was limit the amount of damage done, and hope that something came our way, as it eventually did.
“Fiorentina were also physically stronger than us, however I took a risk at the end by introducing Leonardo, and it paid off,” the coach concluded.
Ajax will now face Marseille in the next stage of the competition, whilst Fiorentina will return to domestic duties hoping to secure Champions League football for next term.
Adrian Del Monte
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