From the start of the match, Utrecht's formation revealed their specific goal for the match.
Defend to the death and wear them down!
Everyone knew that Ajax would face the Champions League final on May 26th. Therefore, in the second leg of the Dutch Cup final on May 23rd, Ajax would definitely not go all out. Even their main players would be frozen!
The first leg would be played at the Amsterdam Arena. The second leg would be moved to Utrecht's home ground.
In that case, Utrecht would go all out to prevent Ajax from scoring in the first leg. In the second leg, they would go back to their home ground and try to win the match.
This was their wishful thinking.
It was clear at a glance when they surrounded the penalty area so tightly that not even a drop of water could trickle through.
Ajax was not surprised.
The players on the field did not panic at all when they saw the opponent's formation. After they stabilized in the middle of the season, most of their opponents were tough. This honed their ability to break through in the face of dense defenses, and also improved their psychological quality in the game.
Why should they panic?
Iron Bucket Formation?
Just break through!
When the opponent left only one striker to look for a chance to counterattack in the midfield area, Ajax's defenders on both sides could assist more unscrupulously. They made full use of the width of the field to control the ball in the middle and front areas.
Ibrahimovic returned to the starting lineup after recovering from his injury. When he saw the opponent's formation in this match, he already had the awareness to set up a cannon for his teammates.
Ajax's players did not put Utrecht in their eyes. This was their arrogance at work, but it did not mean that they did not value the match.
The league tournament was over, and the Dutch Cup had reached the final stage. Even if the Dutch Cup was very, very light, they would definitely do their best to fight for another honor!
In the first leg, Ajax sent out all their main players to decide the outcome of the match in one battle!
They completely killed the suspense of the second leg!
This required them to score more goals at home to make Utrecht completely collapse and have no hope of turning the tables!
The veteran Galasek sat on the bench for this match. Pienaar replaced him in the starting lineup. It was clear that Comain wanted to put more effort into attacking at home.
At the beginning of the match, Utrecht set up a tight defensive formation, while Ajax threatened his opponent with long shots.
With Qin Xiong and Ibrahimovic in the middle, and Maxwell and Grygra on the wings, the four of them took the initiative to create long range shooting opportunities for Pinar, Snede, and Van Der Vaart, forming a large rhombus-shaped offensive structure that enveloped a small triangle on the field.
Van Der Vaart's long shot slid out of the goalmouth. Pienaar's long shot created chaos in the penalty area and almost allowed Ibrahimovic to score. Snede's shot tested the opponent's goalkeeper.
Ajax was as ferocious as a tiger at home!
With Ajax attacking like a tide, the Utrecht players could not trust that their rigid defense would lead to a draw. Therefore, in order to limit Ajax's long shots, their tight formation moved outwards. It was a small change, but Qin Xiong keenly grasped the opportunity.
In the 19th minute of the match, Qin Xiong began to run to the left winger position. His movement was noticed by his teammates, and they immediately understood.
Pienaar stopped shooting long shots and took over Qin Xiong's position and role, coordinating with Maxwell on the wings.
Maxwell passed the ball to Snede in front of him, who passed it to Ibrahimovic on the penalty area line.
Ibrahimovic did not stop the ball and sent it back. It looked like he was passing the ball back to Snede, but it was intercepted by Qin Xiong halfway.
After the ball was sent out, Ibrahimovic immediately ran forward, looking like he was waiting for Qin Xiong to send the ball from behind. Ibrahimovic thought happily as he ran: I created an opportunity for you! Don't waste it!
His running position drove Utrecht's defensive line backward, creating space for Qin Xiong to dribble in front of the penalty area.
Qin Xiong's switch was to take advantage of the slight change in Utrecht's midfield line to head forward. With Ibrahimovic taking the initiative to cover for him, he began to dribble in a very skillful horizontal cut from the wings!
He ran like a thunderstorm in front of the penalty area. Utrecht's players came to surround and intercept him, but they were shaken off by his constant changes in rhythm. It looked like those opponents who intercepted him were only one step away. Yes, they either brushed past him or were left behind by him by a body length.
This was originally Robben's unique skill, but in this season, it looked like Qin Xiong, the one who stole it, used this skill to score more goals!
At this moment, after Qin Xiong ran across the 20-yard area from left to right, stirring up Utrecht's rear defensive line, he finally caught the best angle to shoot.
The goalkeeper moved all the way from the left side of the goal to the right side of the goal. Qin Xiong suddenly raised his leg to shoot, and the football flew to the top left corner of the goal with a strong impact without a trace of rotation!
The Utrecht goalkeeper gave up on the save on the way back. It was too late!
The football went into the net!
The first goal, the Ball of Desolation, was scored by Qin Xiong!
Qin Xiong did not make his signature celebratory gesture after the goal. Instead, he opened his arms and ran wildly along the edge of the field like he was gliding. Wherever he passed, the crowd in the stands was spectacular!
From the moment the game started, Qin Xiong knew that his time in this stadium as an Ajax player had entered the countdown!
He ran wildly to his heart's content, his eyes sweeping across every corner of the stands. He wanted to imprint the wave-like scene in his mind and never forget it for the rest of his life!
When I came, I was unknown. When I left, I was famous all over the world!
Ajax was his mother team, the place where he rose to prominence, the starting point of his fame. How could he forget this place in his life? How could the memories here be mottled?
Ajax gave him the opportunity, the trust given to him, the support given to him by the fans, the applause, cheers, screams, love for him … All of it was in his memory, all of it deep in his heart. He had no way to repay it. He could only run, fight, and use his actions to bring glory to Ajax and make the fans proud!
The fans in the stands stared blissfully at the China player who opened his arms as if he was embracing the world, watching him chase the wind and roar to the world, showing the Ajax spirit to the world as an Ajax player!
Ajax opened the account for the goal. The game was on track for them.
In the 31st minute of the game, Qin Xiong suddenly crossed to the right flank of the penalty area after cutting inside from the left flank. Utrecht, who was staring at Van Der Vaart, thought they could rest easy. They were wrong, wrong, very wrong!
They underestimated Qin Xiong too much. He would not pass to Van Der Vaart, who had no chance to get the ball. Van Der Vaart also reflected the football wisdom of the Dutch golden boy. They all knew that Qin Xiong passed to another player, Grygera, who was covered by Van Der Vaart and cut into the end line of the penalty area from the flank!
The Czech player crossed to the middle from the end line, and Ibrahimovic outflanked the goal and pushed the ball into the goal!
The second goal!
Ajax, who became braver as the game went on, did not stop. Their offense flowed smoothly, and every player seemed to be a threat that could not be ignored!
Ajax showed the momentum of a local king, constantly intimidating, humiliating, and oppressing Utrecht's defensive line.
And Utrecht could only tremble, fear, and despair under the pressure of Ajax's powerful and terrifying offense!
In the 42nd minute, Ajax's front line continued to attack. Van Der Vaart first blasted a long shot from the edge of the penalty area, which was blocked by the Utrecht goalkeeper in front of the goal. Ibrahimovic followed up with a follow-up shot, which was blocked by the goalkeeper's body. The defender panicked and could not kick far.
The spectators in the stands watched the football fly out of the penalty area. Thirty-five yards away from the goal, the football had not yet landed, but it was directly volleyed back to the goal.
The volleyed football passed over the heads of the players in the penalty area and fell rapidly. It flew into the goal under the dumbfounded expression of the Utrecht goalkeeper!
The Ajax fans were already in a frenzy. They opened their mouths and waved their arms to cheer for the shocking goal!
Qin Xiong, Qin Xiong again!
A brace, Ajax's third goal was born!
Utrecht, who was completely panicked, completely collapsed in the second half.
Ajax was awarded a penalty kick in the 57th minute. Pinar charged into the penalty area and was roughed to the ground by the opponent. Van Der Vaart took the penalty kick and scored the fourth goal!
In the 69th minute of the game, Qin Xiong took the free kick in front of the penalty area and hit it directly in the corner of the goal.
A hat trick!
The fifth goal!
Ajax powerfully defeated Utrecht amidst the cheers of the crowd, and also announced that they had won the Dutch Cup title in advance!
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