Final score

12 November 2002 20:45

Ajax
49' (2nd half) VAN DER VAART
Inter
7' (2nd half) Crespo
5' (2nd half) Crespo
Referee: Urs Meier / Linesmen: Buragina, Zueger / Fourth official: Rogalla
Minute Text commentary
45' 2 minutes added on at the end of the first half.
45' Conceiçao curls in a free kick. The ball is cleared, then Almeyda fires a shot from the distance way over.
40' Vieri is booked for fouling Galasek. Three yellow cards for Inter in the space of 15 minutes.
35' The Nerazzurri maintain ball possession, resulting in a Conceiçao cross from the right which finishes in the hands of Didulica.
30' Coco booked for stopping Trabelsi in his tracks down the right channel.
29' Van der Vaart unleashes a shot from 20 yards out. Toldo makes a good save.
27' Zanetti neutralises danger from Mido in the middle of the Inter box, heading clear. Toldo prevents the clearance from going behind for a corner.
25' Materazzi booked for a challenge from behind on Van der Vaart.
22' Toldo plucks the ball out of the air from an Ajax cross in from the right, then throws the ball out as Almeyda remains on the ground after a challenge.
21' Morfeo floats in a free kick from the left channel. Didulica collects.
20' Van Damme sends a ferocious shot wide of Toldo's left-hand post.
18' Van der Vaart sends a left-footed free kick over Toldo's bar from 20 yards out after a foul by Gigi Di Biagio.
13' Crespo causes a few problems on the edge of the Ajax box, but his final shot is too weak.
11' Van der Meyde beats Morfeo on the edge of the Inter box. The Ajax player shoots, Materazzi blocks.
7' Toldo saves a Mido header, Van der Vaart shoots home from close range, but he's offside. Inter survive an early scare.
5' Van Der Vaart shoots from a Maxwell pass. Toldo saves the shot, which takes a slight deflection off an Inter defender.
2' Crespo latches on to a through ball but his final shot from just inside the Ajax box is collected by Didulica.
1' Crespo and Vieri kick off Ajax vs. Inter.
Minute Text commentary
50' Full time. Cuper's troops march on to the second phase of the Champions League.
49' It's insignificant by now, but Ajax pull a goal back. Van der Vaart's shot from the edge of the box takes a deflection off Cordoba and past Toldo.
48' News arrives that Ajax will qualify even if they lose, since Rosenborg have drawn 1-1 at home to Lyon. The ArenA erupts.
47' Emre on for Morfeo.
45' Recoba breaks for Inter down the left. A misunderstanding between El Chino and Almeyda sees the home side regain possession.
45' 5 minutes added on by Urs Meier.
43' Toldo tips a Maxwell shot from the distance over the bar.
36' Di Biagio thunders in a 20-yard right-footed shot which comes off the crossbar, then hits Didulica before going out for a corner.
34' Another booking for Inter. Almeyda is shown the yellow card for obstruction.
33' Toldo booked for time-wasting.
30' Nervousness creeping into the Ajax ranks. Mido booked for a malicious foul on Marco Materazzi.
27' Ajax make their third substitution - Yakubu comes on for Galasek. At the same time, Cuper brings on Adani for Conceiçao.
25' Wamberto takes on a man then sends a 20-yard shot into the stands. Ajax are giving everything to try and claw their way back into this match.
20' Inter substitution - Recoba on for two-goal hero Crespo.
18' Materazzi deviates a Mido shot from a corner over the Inter bar.
16' Javier Zanetti attacks down the right channel. The Inter captain finds his way into the Ajax box and shoots. Didulica saves.
15' Vieri turns his marker in the Ajax box then shoots a weak right-footed shot. A fantastic chance for Inter's third.
13' Excellent chance for the home side. Mido turns well then shoots. Off-target.
12' Double Dutch substitution - Wamberto and Witschge for Pienaar and Van Damme
10' Di Biagio does well to snuff out danger from Van der Meyde.
7' 2-0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Another Crespo header, this time from a Vieri return pass. Crespo sets a new record for an Inter player in a sole edition of a European cup competition with 8 goals.
5' GOOOAAAAAL!!!! Crespo heads home a Di Biagio cross from the right. The Argentine scores his 7th goal in 6 Champions Leage matches.
4' Ajax kick off the second half.
2' Half time. 0-0 between Inter and Ajax at Amsterdam ArenA.
Di Biagio
7.18
7.18
Recoba
7.05
7.05
Vieri
7.75
7.75
Zanetti
7.32
7.32
Cordoba
6.95
6.95
Materazzi
7.23
7.23
Emre
7.3
7.3
Conceiçao
6.02
6.02
Toldo
7.42
7.42
Coco
5.95
5.95
Morfeo
6.04
6.04
Almeyda
6.73
6.73
Adani
6.58
6.58
Crespo
9.04
9.04
Average rating 7.04
5 shots on target 6
20 shots off target 3
23 fouls committed 19
8 corners 2
2 offsides 1
00 ball possession 00
Previous meetings between Inter and Dutch sides

Besides the two previous meetings with Ajax (1 victory apiece), Inter have played against Dutch clubs on 11 occasions, registering 3 wins, 4 draws and 4 defeats. The Nerazzurri have never won an official match played in Holland (3 draws and 3 defeats.

In detail:

1971/72 European Cup Inter-Ajax ---- 0-2 (in Rotterdam)
1974/75 UEFA Cup Inter-Amsterdam FC 1-2 0-0
1980/81 Mundialito Club Inter-Feyenoord 2-1 ----
1982/83 Cup Winners' Cup Inter-AZ 67 2-0 0-1
1983/84 UEFA Cup Inter-Groningen 5-1 0-2
2000/01 UEFA Cup Inter-Vitesse 0-0 1-1
2001/02 UEFA Cup Inter-Feyenoord 0-1 2-2
2002/03 Champions League Inter-Ajax 1-0 ----

Previous meetings between Ajax and Italian clubs

Ajax have won 11, drawn 8 and lost 9 of 28 official matches against Italian clubs (including the previous meetings with Inter). 5 of these matches have been European Cup/Champions League finals (3 titles won and 2 lost), 2 European Super Cup matches (against AC Milan in 1973/74) and 1 UEFA Cup final (against Torino in 1991/92). Ajax have only lost once at home in a European match against an Italian side (Ajax 1-2 Juventus in the 1996/97 Champions League).

In detail:

1968 Piano Rappan Cup Ajax-Torino 3-1 1-1
1968/69 European Cup Ajax-AC Milan ---- ---- 1-4 (in Madrid)
1969/70 Fairs/UEFA Cup Ajax-Napoli 4-0 (a.e.t.) 0- 1
1971/72 European Cup Ajax-Inter ---- ---- 2-0 (in Rotterdam)
1972/73 European Cup Ajax-Juventus ---- ---- 1-0 (in Belgrade)
1973/74 European Super Cup Ajax-AC Milan 6-0 0-1
1974/75 UEFA Cup Ajax-Juventus 2-1 0-1
1997/78 European Cup Ajax-Juventus 1-1 1-1 (1-4 after pens)
1991/92 UEFA Cup Ajax-Genoa 1-1 3-2
1991/92 UEFA Cup Ajax-Torino 0-0 2-2
1993/94 Cup Winners' Cup Ajax-Parma 0-0 0-2
1994/95 Champions League Ajax-Milan 2-0 2-0
1994/95 Champions League Ajax-Milan ---- ---- 1-0 (in Vienna)
1995/96 Champions League Ajax-Juventus ---- ---- 1-1 (3-5 after pens, in Rome)
1996/97 Champions League Ajax-Juventus 1-2 1-4
1997/98 UEFA Cup Ajax-Udinese 1-0 1-2
2002/03 Champions League Ajax-Inter ---- 0-1

Previous meetings between Ajax and Inter

Ajax and Inter have met in European cup competitions on two previous occasions.

In detail:

1971/72 European Cup final Ajax-Inter 2-0 ----
2002/03 Champions League Ajax-Inter ---- 0-1

No defeat in Holland for Italian clubs in last 4 matches

Italian sides haven't lost in the last 4 European cup competition matches played in Holland. The last defeat was PSV Eindhoven 1- 0 Lazio (Champions League, 26 September 2001). Since then, teams from Italy have managed 2 wins and 2 draws.

Crespo chasing Mazzola's record

Hernan Crespo has scored 6 goals in the 2002/03 Champions League. The South American centre-forward is just one goal away from equalling the record set by Sandro Mazzola, who in the 1963/64 European Cup scored 7 goals - still a record for an Inter player in a single edition of a European Cup/Champions League.

Nerazzurri unbeaten in 6 European away matches

Inter haven't lost on the road in Europe since 22 November 2001 (Ipswich 1-0 Inter in the UEFA Cup). Since then, Cuper's side have managed 1 win and 5 draws.

Vieri the protagonist in only victory by an Italian club away to Ajax

While at Juventus, Christian Vieri faced Ajax on 2 occasions in the 1996/97 Champions League. Bobo scored in each of the two matches against the Dutch side - in Ajax 1-2 Juventus in Amsterdam (the only time an Italian club has won away to Ajax in official matches) and in Juventus 4-1 Ajax in Turin.

wins(1) draws(1) defeats(1)

starting lineups

DIDULICA 1 Toldo
TRABELSI 4 Zanetti
BERGDOLMO 2 Cordoba
DE JONG 23 Materazzi
VAN DAMME 77 Coco
GALASEK 7 Conceiçao
PIENAAR 14 Di Biagio
MAXWELL 25 Almeyda
VAN DER MEYDE 10 Morfeo
HOSSAM MIDO 9 Crespo
VAN DER VAART 32 Vieri

substitutes

TIMMER 12 Fontana
YAKUBU 31 Vivas
WAMBERTO 26 Pasquale
WITSCHGE 15 Adani
MACHLAS 22 Okan
SIKORA 5 Emre
VAN HALST 20 Recoba