Match Report: VCF fall to home defeat to Ajax (0-3)

Valencia CF welcomed AFC Ajax on Wednesday the 2nd of October at 9 pm. Celades’ side looked to pick up back-to-back wins following their 0-1 win at Stamford Bridge on the opening day.

The game started at a high tempo at both ends with Ajax having the first chance down the left but Van Der Beek’s effort came back off the crossbar in the opening minute of the game. Valencia CF responded with a quick break down the right from Rodrigo Moreno who cut inside and Dani Parejo tried his luck from long range straight at the Ajax keeper. 

AFC Ajax got themselves in front through an Hakim Zyech top corner bending effort which caught Jasper Cillessen out on seven minutes in an end to end opening passage of play from the Dutch side.

Celades’ side enjoyed a good spell of possession in attack and it bore fruit halfway through the first half when Gonçalo Guedes was brought down in the box by an Álvarez sliding challenge from behind.  The referee pointed to the spot but Dani Parejo’s spot-kick sailed over the bar.

Moments later Valencia CF had two clear-cut chances over the 30-minute mark when Gonçalo Guedes volleyed it wide following an aerial tussle for the ball. Two minutes later, Onana denied Maxi Gómez the equaliser from close range.    

Quincy Promes tapped it home to extend Ajax’s lead from close range. Valencia CF fluffed their lines and the Dutch winger scoffed it past Jasper Cillessen on 34 minutes.  

Valencia CF refused to back down Rodrigo poked it against the upright following a pin-point Ferran Torres cross from the right-hand side but lady luck kept on evading Valencia CF in front of goal.

Hakim Zyech crashed a long-range effort against the crossbar in the closing minutes. Valencia CF were trailing at the intermission by 0-2 in a fast-paced opening half at Mestalla.

The same script followed in the second half Valencia came quick out of the blocks by piling the pressure on the Ajax goal. Ferran Torres came mighty close to scoring early in the second half with a sweet strike off a deflection which forced Onana into a smart save. Moments later, Onana managed to tip a Maxi Gomez flick onto the far post to deny Valencia CF a much-deserved goal.

Donny Van Der Beek completed the scoreline for Ajax after an Ajax team move outside the box that was finished off by Van Der Beek slotted it across Jasper Cillessen.

The scoreline saw no changes as VCF fell to a home defeat against ajax despite a great showing by Albert Celades’ side who were  denied by the post twice and missed a spot-kick against a clinical Ajax. Valencia CF will be back in domestic action on Saturday the 5th of October at Mestalla at 6. 30 pm on Matchday 8 of LaLiga.  

Match Details:

0. Valencia CF: Cillessen, Wass, G. Paulista, Garay, Jaume Costa, Parejo, Coquelin (Thierry R., m. 70), Guedes, Ferran (Cheryshev, m. 76), Maxi Gómez (Kang In, m. 57) and Rodrigo M.

3. AFC Ajax: Onana, Dest, Veltman, Blind, Tagliafico, Álvarez, Van de Beek (De Jong, m. 88), Martínez, Ziyech (Huntelaar, m. 85), Tadic and Promes (Neres, m. 81) .

Goals: 0-1. M. 7: Ziyech. 0-2. M. 34: Promises. 0-3 M. 67: Van de Beek.

Referee: Daniele Orsato (Italy). He showed a yellow card to Jaume Costa, Kang In, Garay and Parejo for alencia CF, and Veltman, Tagliafico, Álvarez, Onana, Promes and Blind for AFC Ajax.

Observations: UEFA Champions League Group H Matchday 2, played on Wednesday at 9:00 pm in Mestalla before 44,659 spectators.