2013-11-06: Ajax 1-0 Celtic, European Cup

Match Pictures | Matches: 2013 – 2014 | 2013-14 Pictures

Trivia

  • Champions League 2013-14
  • Celtic back to bottom on 3points, Ajax 4, Milan 5. Barcelona top on ten. Celtic can still actually come second in group, very close.
  • Roof closed tonight in Amsterdam stadium.
  • Website in Holland asked prior to this game if it's the worst Ajax side ever (hyperbole). Played well in this game so nonsense.
  • Boerrigter subbed on playing against his old club.
  • Trouble outwith of the ground with Ajax youths in all black and masks attacking the Celtic fans in pubs and the main square. Lots of trouble but not huge mass riots or the like, mostly showboating by daft youths but some of it went out of hand. Press painting it as far worse than it was, and Celtic made to look bad.
  • However some nasty over zealous policing led to some vicious abuse.
  • Reports that police attacked a Celtic fan, and in general the police didn't protect the fans from louts.
  • Scott Brown's appeal on his excessive three match suspension turned down.
  • Nir Biton suspended for two for his red in last game.
  • Former Celtic manager Martin O'Neil announced new Ireland manager, ex-Celtic player Roy Keane his assistant. Great honours for Celtic.
  • Lisbon Lion Bobby Lennox to undergo heart surgery, triple by pass. All wish him all the strength in the world.
  • The Fenian Lamppost

Post-Match

  • Campaigns begun to free two Celtic fans unfairly jailed in Amsterdam after the Ajax game, Andy Vance & Padraig Mullen. Celtic fans (in particular TheCelticTrust) working hard to get to the bottom of it all after the police brutality and heavy handedness.
  • Ajax have been fined €25,000 by UEFA for the "Fenian Bastards" banner behind their goals against Celtic. Statement says Ajax were fined for 'improper conduct of their supporters' and 'for the displaying of an offensive banner. Note, a second hearing on the Ajax fans ripping out seats at Celtic Park to still go ahead.
  • Banner appeared in same areas as the “F-Side” hooligan group of Ajax fans.
  • UEFA: "The banner was aimed at Ajax's opponents that night. Uefa imposed a fine of 25,000 euros.
  • "The possible penalty for such an offense is a fine of 50,000 euros plus the closure of some parts of the stadium at the next European home game.
  • "After a prompt and adequate response from Ajax the fine was halved and the partial closure averted. The penalty will be recovered from those responsible.
  • "Another case is in process arising from disturbances during Ajax's match against Celtic FC in Glasgow. A ruling is expected to follow on Thursday, 21 November.
  • Injured Celtic fan J. O'Hagan run-over by Dutch police may be disabled for life (from twitter).
  • Jan 2014: Uefa close section 127 for Ajax – Red Bull Salzburg, because of their "Fenian Bastard" banner during Ajax – Celtic game. Good news!
  • See link for overview
  • 25th January 2019: after a 5 year battle, the Dam Bhoys battle for justice was vindicated in a Dutch legal verdict which cleared 4 boys with a fifth having his sentence cut to a month's suspended for a reduced charge. It was belatedly and finally some justice. see:link

Review[Untitled]

(bassbhoy of KDS forum)

Hugely disappointing result and hugely disappointing contribution from too many players. First touch was woeful. With the exception of the back four, there wasn't an outfield player on the park that looked like they could win a tackle, make a pass to a team mate, control the ball first time – all of the basic skills seemed to have deserted them completely.

Sammy had three men around him every time the ball went anywhere near him – and yet we persisted in launching the ball to him. It clearly wasn't working so he came deeper and deeper, bringing his three shadows with him – so we lost the ball nearer our own box as the game went on.

The starting line up wasn't one I argued with when I saw it – I thought we should have had enough with that team to at least make a game of it – but when two of your midfield four are anonymous passengers then it's never going to work. We were just swamped in the middle of the park.

Gutted.

Teams

Ajax

  • 22 Cillessen
  • 02 van Rhijn
  • 15 Boilesen
  • 17 Blind
  • 12 Veltman
  • 24 Denswil Booked
  • 18 Klaassen Booked (Poulsen – 82' )
  • 25 Serero (Fischer – 72' )
  • 10 S. de Jong
  • 20 Schöne
  • 09 Sigthorsson (van der Hoorn – 90' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Vermeer
  • 04 Moisander
  • 05 Poulsen
  • 06 van der Hoorn
  • 07 Fischer
  • 16 Andersen
  • 23 Hoesen

Goals

  • Schöne 51'

Celtic

  • 01 Forster
  • 23 Lustig
  • 03 Izaguirre Booked
  • 33 Kayal (Ledley – 77' )
  • 04 Ambrose
  • 05 van Dijk
  • 49 Forrest
  • 21 Mulgrew
  • 10 Stokes (Boerrigter – 73' )
  • 15 Commons (Pukki – 81' )
  • 09 Samaras Booked

Substitutes

  • 11 Boerrigter
  • 16 Ledley
  • 17 Baldé
  • 18 Rogic
  • 20 Pukki
  • 24 Zaluska
  • 41 Fisher

Ref: Deniz Aytekin
Att:

Articles

  • Match Report (see end of page below)
  • Audio Report: Paradise Report

Pictures

Forum

MOTM

Stats

Ajax Celtic

Possession
39% 61%
90mins

Shots
14 9

On target
7 2

Corners
6 4

Fouls
16 15

Articles

Ajax's Lasse Schöne punishes Celtic's failure to convert chances

The Guardian Ewan Murray

Celtic's best news of the night was delivered from Barcelona rather than Amsterdam. A defeat for Milan in the Camp Nou keeps Neil Lennon's hopes of guiding Celtic to the last 16 once again alive but the Scottish champions were deservedly defeated here. Only time will tell how damaging Celtic's tame showing in the Netherlands will prove to be.

Celtic must beat Milan in Glasgow and almost certainly take tangible reward from December's trip to Barcelona to claim second place in Group H. For either scenario to occur, Lennon's team must improve on the lack of both belief and talent in forward areas which allowed Ajax to defend their single goal lead without much hassle at all.

"I think some of the players will have regrets about the game because they were nowhere near their best," said Lennon. "At this level, you can't have that."

The strength of the pre-match atmosphere, boosted further by the closed ArenA roof, highlighted how significant a match this was for Ajax. Yet two meetings with Celtic, inside and outside of stadia in Glasgow and Amsterdam, have also served to highlight the moronic element which attaches itself to the Dutch champions. Before kick-off here, a large banner bearing the offensive slogan "fenian bastards" was produced behind one goal.

Not that Celtic's support proved themselves paragons of virtue; verse about Frank De Boer, an ex-Rangers player, being a "sad orange bastard" proving some people are unwilling to step into the 21st century.

News reports claimed eight police officers needed hospital treatment and 15 fans were arrested after clashes in central Amsterdam before the game. "The officers took quite a beating," said a police spokesman.

"One of the officers was unconscious, another had his nose broken."

Ajax's play was more appealing. Fraser Forster, so prominent for Celtic in Europe in recent times, had to bat away a Stefano Denswil free-kick as the hosts sought the comfort of an early lead.

Forster produced an even better save in the 17th minute to deny Siem de Jong's. Celtic had been guilty time and again of cheaply conceding possession, albeit Ajax's lack of punch in the final third offered hope to the visitors.

Not that Celtic offered anything even resembling attacking menace themselves. Kris Commons and Georgios Samaras produced nothing at all by way of support to the lone striker Anthony Stokes.

Still, within five minutes of the restart, Celtic passed up a glorious opportunity. Beram Kayal was inexplicably left to surge forward from midfield to within 20 yards of the Ajax goal. Kayal shot but failed to even hit the target. Just 60 seconds later, that profligacy was punished.

Lasse Schöne worked a one-two with De Jong on the edge of the visitors' penalty area. Forster came out to meet Schöne, who calmly slotted the ball through the goalkeeper's legs.

Stokes could have provided an immediate reply. However, the Republic of Ireland international fired right into the hands of Jasper Cillessen after collecting a Commons pass.

Commons almost caught Cillessen out with a long-range effort, 20 minutes from time. Lennon's first attacking change came three minutes later as Derk Boerrigter, a former Ajax winger, replaced Stokes.

Samaras was thereby moved from the left flank to centre forward, where he is never entirely keen on playing. Any dispute from Samaras over his positional switch could readily have been offset by his blatant lack of impact on the game when in his favoured role.

As Ajax looked to settle proceedings, Forster used his feet to block from the outstanding De Jong. From the resultant corner, Denswil headed against a post; in truth, a second goal never looked necessary.

BBC
By Alasdair Lamont BBC Scotland's senior football reporter in the Amsterdam ArenA

Celtic turned in their poorest Champions League performance of the campaign as they fell to a potentially damaging defeat in Amsterdam.

Lasse Schone's wonderfully-worked goal was enough to avenge the defeat the Dutch suffered at the hands of Neil Lennon's side in Glasgow.

It leaves Celtic bottom of Group H with just three points from four games.

Even if they beat Milan at home in their next game, they may need to take something from Barcelona to progress.
Dutch domination

Ajax had seven shots on target to Celtic's two.
Frank de Boer's young side had 61% of the possession.

Celtic's display was all the more disappointing given the positivity with which they arrived in the Dutch capital.

But the thousands of travelling supporters were given little to cheer as their team barely threatened the Ajax goal.

The home side were on top throughout and the winning Ajax goal was befitting of any of the teams who have worn the famous red and white jerseys over the years.

A fabulous move of one-touch passing involving Schone, Davy Klaassen, Siem de Jong and Thulani Serero left the Celtic defence gaping in wonder as the Dane rounded it off by poking it cutely past goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

Schone – impressive throughout – almost curled in a second direct from a corner, only for Emilio Izaguirre to head off the line.
Play media

Ajax also struck the post late on, with Forster gratefully watching Stefano Denswil's header come off the upright.

The tone was set by Celtic's first-half performance, which failed to reach the standards set previously in the Champions League, typified by defensive lapses and an inability to impose themselves in an attacking sense.

Despite that, Forster was called into serious action only twice.

Denswil tested him with an early 30-yard free kick, which was pushed behind by the keeper.

More impressively, he sprung to his right to tip De Jong's downward header round the post following a terrific cross by Ricardo van Rhijn.

Celtic failed to trouble Jasper Cillessen in the opening period, but should have done so just a minute before Schone struck for Ajax.
Lasse Schone scores for Ajax

Ajax's Lasse Schone pokes past Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster

Beram Kayal was allowed to run from the halfway line as far as the edge of the Ajax penalty area, as Anthony Stokes's clever run dragged defenders away, but the midfielder's shot, under little pressure, flew wildly over.

That miss felt all the more painful as Schone made the breakthrough and though Stokes made Cillessen work shortly afterwards, the striker's effort from the left of the penalty area was comfortably held by the Dutch international.

On a bitterly disappointing evening for Celtic, only Forster and the immense Virgil van Dijk earned pass-marks and Neil Lennon will know much improvement is required if Champions League progress is to remain a reality.

Live Text Commentary
Full time

Full Time Match ends, Ajax 1, Celtic 0.
90:00 +4:00 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Ajax 1, Celtic 0.
90:00 +3:50

Corner, Ajax. Conceded by Emilio Izaguirre.
90:00 +2:29

Offside, Celtic. Joe Ledley tries a through ball, but Georgios Samaras is caught offside.
90:00 +0:36

Attempt missed. Joe Ledley (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Teemu Pukki.
90:00 +0:02

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Mike van der Hoorn.
89:30 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Ajax. Mike van der Hoorn replaces Kolbeinn Sigthorsson.
86:13

Stefano Denswil (Ajax) hits the right post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Lasse Schöne with a cross following a corner.
85:44

Corner, Ajax. Conceded by Fraser Forster.
85:42

Attempt saved. Siem de Jong (Ajax) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Lasse Schöne.
82:04

Delay over. They are ready to continue.
82:00 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Ajax. Christian Poulsen replaces Davy Klaassen.
81:15

Delay in match Davy Klaassen (Ajax) because of an injury.
80:47

Attempt missed. Mikael Lustig (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
80:13 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Teemu Pukki replaces Kris Commons.
79:52

Dangerous play by Nicolai Boilesen (Ajax).
79:52

James Forrest (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
79:35

Attempt saved. Kolbeinn Sigthorsson (Ajax) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Viktor Fischer.
78:23

Attempt saved. Lasse Schöne (Ajax) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Viktor Fischer.
76:57 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Joe Ledley replaces Beram Kayal.
76:41

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Viktor Fischer.
75:44

Joël Veltman (Ajax) wins a free kick on the right wing.
75:44

Foul by Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic).
73:32

Attempt blocked. Viktor Fischer (Ajax) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Davy Klaassen.
73:14

Siem de Jong (Ajax) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
73:14

Foul by Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic).
72:56 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Derk Boerrigter replaces Anthony Stokes.
71:42 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Ajax. Viktor Fischer replaces Thulani Serero.
71:18

Offside, Celtic. Anthony Stokes tries a through ball, but Kris Commons is caught offside.
70:23

Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by James Forrest.
69:16

Corner, Ajax. Conceded by Mikael Lustig.
67:37

Attempt missed. Beram Kayal (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a set piece situation.
67:04 Booking

Booking Stefano Denswil (Ajax) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
66:57

Foul by Stefano Denswil (Ajax).
66:57

Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
66:31

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
65:38

Hand ball by Davy Klaassen (Ajax).
64:12

Foul by Joël Veltman (Ajax).
64:12

Anthony Stokes (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
60:29

Foul by Joël Veltman (Ajax).
60:29

Anthony Stokes (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
55:49

Attempt missed. Joël Veltman (Ajax) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Davy Klaassen following a corner.
55:05

Corner, Ajax. Conceded by Mikael Lustig.
54:31

Davy Klaassen (Ajax) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
54:31

Foul by Georgios Samaras (Celtic).
53:59

Attempt saved. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kris Commons.
52:27

Foul by Nicolai Boilesen (Ajax).
52:27

Mikael Lustig (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
51:49

Offside, Ajax. Daley Blind tries a through ball, but Thulani Serero is caught offside.
50:40 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Ajax 1, Celtic 0. Lasse Schöne (Ajax) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Thulani Serero.
49:14

Attempt missed. Beram Kayal (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Kris Commons.
47:12

Offside, Celtic. Efe Ambrose tries a through ball, but Anthony Stokes is caught offside.
46:18

Foul by Nicolai Boilesen (Ajax).
46:18

Mikael Lustig (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
45:00

Second Half begins Ajax 0, Celtic 0.
45:00 +1:04 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Ajax 0, Celtic 0.
45:00 +0:54

Offside, Ajax. Davy Klaassen tries a through ball, but Lasse Schöne is caught offside.
44:01

Attempt missed. Thulani Serero (Ajax) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
42:21 Booking

Booking Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
42:12

Lasse Schöne (Ajax) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
42:12

Foul by Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic).
41:25

Foul by Thulani Serero (Ajax).
41:25

Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
40:00 Booking

Booking Davy Klaassen (Ajax) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
39:51

Dangerous play by Davy Klaassen (Ajax).
39:51

Beram Kayal (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
39:10

Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Kris Commons with a cross following a corner.
38:44

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Nicolai Boilesen.
38:03

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Nicolai Boilesen.
35:15

Nicolai Boilesen (Ajax) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
35:15

Foul by Beram Kayal (Celtic).
33:54

Nicolai Boilesen (Ajax) wins a free kick on the left wing.
33:54

Foul by Kris Commons (Celtic).
31:07

Foul by Kolbeinn Sigthorsson (Ajax).
31:07

Mikael Lustig (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
28:42

Foul by Stefano Denswil (Ajax).
28:42

Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
28:09

Attempt blocked. Lasse Schöne (Ajax) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ricardo van Rhijn.
27:11

Foul by Daley Blind (Ajax).
27:11

Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
26:48

Kolbeinn Sigthorsson (Ajax) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
26:48

Foul by Mikael Lustig (Celtic).
25:45

Corner, Ajax. Conceded by Anthony Stokes.
25:43

Attempt blocked. Lasse Schöne (Ajax) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
25:41

Attempt blocked. Lasse Schöne (Ajax) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
25:01

Kolbeinn Sigthorsson (Ajax) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
25:01

Foul by Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic).
24:07

Joël Veltman (Ajax) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
24:07

Foul by Kris Commons (Celtic).
20:41

Thulani Serero (Ajax) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
20:41

Foul by Beram Kayal (Celtic).
18:55

Attempt saved. Stefano Denswil (Ajax) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
18:05 Booking

Booking Georgios Samaras (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
18:00

Thulani Serero (Ajax) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
18:00

Foul by Georgios Samaras (Celtic).
16:51

Corner, Ajax. Conceded by Fraser Forster.
16:49

Attempt saved. Siem de Jong (Ajax) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ricardo van Rhijn with a cross.
15:49

Foul by Davy Klaassen (Ajax).
15:49

Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
12:37

Foul by Joël Veltman (Ajax).
12:37

Anthony Stokes (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
12:11

Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Kris Commons following a set piece situation.
11:26

Foul by Stefano Denswil (Ajax).
11:26

Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
11:05

Hand ball by Georgios Samaras (Celtic).
8:41

Daley Blind (Ajax) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
8:41

Foul by Georgios Samaras (Celtic).
7:12

Corner, Ajax. Conceded by Fraser Forster.
7:08

Attempt saved. Stefano Denswil (Ajax) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
6:29

Daley Blind (Ajax) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
6:29

Foul by Kris Commons (Celtic).
4:52

Thulani Serero (Ajax) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
4:52

Foul by Beram Kayal (Celtic).
3:12

Dangerous play by Davy Klaassen (Ajax).
3:12

Georgios Samaras (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
0:00

First Half begins.
0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

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BBC

Ajax v Celtic: Police injured in 'fan attack' before match

Amsterdam Police say an attack by a group of Celtic fans ahead of the Champions League game against Ajax has left eight officers injured.

The clash between supporters and police came in the centre of the Dutch city before kick-off at Amsterdam Arena.

"There were 15 arrests, mostly Celtic supporters," said a police statement.

"At the end of the afternoon, a large group of Celtic supporters attacked police officers in plain clothes. Eight were injured and one left unconscious."

Celtic had earlier issued a warning to their fans to be "extra vigilant" in Amsterdam following an attack on their supporters on Tuesday.

Police said the majority of those arrested in the latest incident were Celtic fans, although it is believed that supporters from other clubs were also involved.

"Bottles and sticks were used in the attack, which came out of nowhere," they said of the fighting in Dam Square.

Police said a few officers "had broken noses and needed stitches above their eyebrows and on their lips".

Celtic lost the match 1-0 and face an uphill battle to reach the knockout stages of the competition.

In Tuesday's incident, a group of visiting supporters in the Dutch capital were involved in a violent incident in a city-centre bar.

Celtic subsequently told fans to "only stick to advised areas for safety reasons".

Some 12,000 Celtic fans were expected to be in Amsterdam for the Group H match.

A club statement, issued on Wednesday, added: "Celtic Football Club is urging all supporters in Amsterdam for tonight's Uefa Champions League tie with Ajax to be extra vigilant following an unprovoked attack on Celtic fans last night.

"The attack in the city centre by an element of the Ajax support resulted in a number of arrests.

"Celtic are urging all supporters to be extra vigilant in the city centre and at the Amsterdam Arena."

Celtic beat Ajax 2-1 last month and Uefa opened disciplinary proceedings against the Dutch club after some of their supporters clashed with police and stewards and damaged seats at Parkhead.