Croatia Zagreb shocks Ajax
Substitute Simic scores winning goal in second half
Posted: Wednesday November 25, 1998 06:39 PM
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A foul on Zagreb's Drazen Ladic (above) stripped Ajax of a goal scored by Wamberto Clive Brunskill/Allsport |
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- Substitute Josip Simic scored with
a delightful lob over Edwin van der Sar to give Croatia Zagreb a
surprise 1-0 victory over Ajax Amsterdam Wednesday in their
Champions League Group A clash.
Playing without star Robert Prosinecki, Zagreb created few
chances but made the most of its first clear opening to steal the
match.
Simic scored his opportunist goal in the 68th minute when Van
der Sar lost the ball after charging off his line to break down a
Zagreb attack but lost the ball. With the goalkeeper stranded, Simic
fired a perfectly-judged 25-yard lob into the empty net.
Ajax dominated possession throughout the match but was unable to
convert its ball control into meaningful attacks as the Croatians
defended resolutly.
The closest four-time European Cup winner Ajax came to opening
the scoring was in the last minute before half time when Richard
Witschge's cross from the right was headed across the face of the
goal by Dani but 19-year-old Brutil Hose, making his European
debut, was beaten to the ball by defender Goran Juric.
The home team had the ball in the net in the 32nd minute when
Wamberto volleyed in from close range after a Ronald de Boer corner
but French referee Marc Batta ruled that Zagreb goalkeeper Drazen
Ladic had been fouled.
Zagreb came close to scoring in the 54th minute when Silvio
Maric released Simic, but Simic, who had come on as a substitute
seconds earlier, was this time denied by Van der Sar who quickly
came off his line to clear the danger.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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