[CMS Story] AFC AJAX Ambitious Again!

MARZEC BLAMES REFEREE FOR DEFEAT AGAINST BENFICA

Ajax lost it's second home game (fourth game in total) in UEFA Champions League group stage to Benfica. The home side had to play 2/3 of the game with a man down, after right back Anton Gaaei was sent off with a direct red card.

It is this red card that ultimately cost Ajax a good result at home, according to their head coach Daniel Marzec: "There was slight touch, definitely not a direct red card. The fouls by Lucas Rosa and Jorthy Mokio were more severe and they were penalized with yellow, so I cannot comprehend the red card."

Ironically, German referee Harald Fimmler agreed with the Ajax-coach: "It' s true, the charge by Ajax no. 3 (Gaaei) wasn't as aggressive as those by the no. 2 (Rosa) or no. 24 (Mokio), but the first made a foul from behind on the ankle of his opponent and that, according to the rule book, is a red card."

Ajax were the equal of Benfica, but in the second half the numerical disadvantage started to work dividend. Heorhy Sudakov made the only goal of the game, after a Benfica managed to disorganize and overload what remained of the Ajax-defence. "It's the story of our Champions League so far: we're just shy of a result each and every game. It should've been draws against Olympiacos and Villarreal. If not for the red card, this would've been a draw or could've been more. But we were playing against two men that couldn't lose against Ajax tonight: Benfica's manager (José Mourinho) and tonight's referee."

The path to an advance is getting narrow for Ajax now: " We were hoping to at six points or more now, but we only have three. And with the schedule ahead it's going be quite the challenge", Marzec admitted. He's not wrong: Ajax are still to play against Galatasaray (at home), Chelsea (away), Marseille (away) and Internazionale (at home).