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Ajax
Champions League | Group Stage
Sep 17, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
PSG logo

1-1

Schone (74')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Cavani (14')

Player Ratings: Ajax 1-1 Paris Saint-Germain

Sports Mole rates the individual performances from Paris Saint-Germain's 1-1 draw with Ajax in Amsterdam, in each side's opening Champions League Group F game.

Lasse Schone's 74th-minute free kick snatched Ajax a 1-1 draw from their opening Champions League Group F match with Paris Saint-Germain in Holland.

The visitors took the lead on 14 minutes when Edinson Cavani buried into an empty net from 10 yards, after a Nicolai Boilesen mistake put Ajax in trouble.

However, having ridden their luck at the other end for much of the second half, the Dutch champions secured a point against one of their rivals for qualification when Schone's set piece snuck past Salvatore Sirigu.

Below, Sports Mole rates and slates the players who turned out at the Amsterdam ArenA.


Ajax Amsterdam's Lasse Schone celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Champions League football match Ajax Amsterdam vs Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in Amsterdam, on September 17, 2014© Getty Images

AJAX

Goal

Jasper Cillessen: Holland's number one should not have been given a chance with some of the opportunities PSG had, but he made some important interventions and showed good handling to catch a couple of stinging Ibrahimovic free kicks. (7/10)

Defence

Ricardo van Rhijn: The right-back did not have a good night as he was constantly exposed. PSG seemed to target their left side for joy and their runners into that channel often found success to the suffering of Van Rhijn. His positioning was poor and so was his crossing. (4/10)

Niklas Moisander: Ajax's captain has a tough job on his hands marshalling an inexperienced defence and struggled to keep them together tonight as they were open for much of the game. Made one crucial block and helped start attacks from the back. (6/10)

Joel Veltman: Veltman is not the biggest for a centre-half and therefore struggled when trying to handle the physicality of Ibrahimovic when he was singled out by the Swede. Was the most composed and aware of the Ajax backline, though. (6/10)

Nicolai Boilesen: His poor mistake cost the home side the opening goal and he was unsure in defensive areas from then on. A typical modern full-back, the Dane was stronger offensively and produced a few nice crosses. (5/10)

Midfield

Nick Viergever: Was heavily outnumbered sitting in front of the Ajax defence and was replaced at half time having barely had a touch. (5/10)

Thulani Serero: Was a lively presence in the centre of the park and got up and down the pitch all evening. Was always willing to get involved in counter-attacks. Was booked for dissent. (7/10)

Lasse Schone: The best player on the home side. Was their go-to man on forward ventures and showed lovely touch and vision throughout. His free kick earned Ajax a point, and his second was even better, but was tipped onto the post. (8/10)

Davy Klaassen: Klaassen had his moments too but not the sustained influence as Schone did. Drifted in and out of the game, but proved to be quick and nimble on the ball when he was involved. (7/10)

Lucas Andersen: Tidy on the ball, but was content to pass the buck to either Klaassen or Schone too often when he could have had a pop at goal from the edge of the box himself. (6/10)

Attack

Kolbeinn Sigthorsson: The Icelandic striker was completely isolated in the first half and perhaps did not have a touch in the PSG area. Had more support in the second, but a clear-cut chance did not fall his way. (5/10)

Substitutes

Niki Zimling: His mere introduction at half time seemed to inject Ajax with some intent and purpose that had been missing. Went close with a long-range effort, but his influence waned as the half went on. (7/10)

Anwar El Ghazi: The young winger was given 30 minutes to impress but got no change out of Maxwell, and could have been sent off for a stupid kick out at the Brazilian off the ball. (4/10)

Arkadiusz Milik: A two-goal hero from the weekend, the striker was brought on in the final 10 minutes as Ajax pushed for a winner, but could not snatch his side maximum points. (6/10)


Paris Saint-Germain's Edinson Cavani celebrates with teammates Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lucas after scoring during the UEFA Champions League football match Ajax Amsterdam vs Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in Amsterdam, on September 17, 2014© Getty Images

PSG

Goal

Salvatore Sirigu: Having not had to make a save previously, the keeper should have done better with Schone's goal, and eventually saved the Ajax man's second set piece after getting himself into a mess. No wonder Petr Cech is on their radar. (6/10)

Defence

Gregory van der Wiel: One of three PSG players returning to his former club, the full-back had a comfortable game, with no Ajax player willing to run on his outside. Contributed to plenty of attacks, but his decision making was not always the best. (6/10)

David Luiz: Without his familiar companion Thiago Silva, Luiz was the leader of a PSG defence that went largely untested, until a final 10 minutes in which they appeared a little shaky. Nearly got himself into trouble trying to play out from the back, but that did not prevent him from doing it again. (6/10)

Marquinhos: The £24m signing does not get as many starting chances as he would like at the Paris club, but he put in an assured performance tonight which included a couple of crucial blocks. (7/10)

Maxwell: The experienced full-back was very solid defensively, but, with so much space often on the PSG left, he could have made more of an effort to get forward regularly, after a promising few early bursts. (7/10)

Midfield

Thiago Motta: PSG's anchorman had a few problems dealing with the lively presences of Schone and Klaassen in the hole, but generally did a good protecting job. Delivered several excellent corners. (6/10)

Marco Verratti: The Italian signed a new long-term contract with the club this week and will be a key player for years, but he did not have his most influential match and was sometimes reckless in the tackle. (6/10)

Blaise Matuidi: Has not been a regular this season despite enjoying a decent World Cup, but Matuidi was the pick of PSG's midfielder's tonight, providing them with good energy and making some smart runs beyond the strikers into an exposed left channel. (7/10)

Attack

Lucas Moura: His strong, but fair, pressure on Boilesen, set up the opening goal, but the Brazilian is not the most assured in front of the net himself and wasted a glorious opportunity within a minute of the restart. (6/10)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Known for his outstanding goalscoring record and the standard of those goals, Ibrahimovic's best moments tonight came from his passing, which was sublime at times. Could not get a goal on his return to Ajax. (7/10)

Edinson Cavani: Gave PSG the lead after 14 minutes with an easy finish, but was rarely involved apart from that. Does not look comfortable playing out on the left and that may be behind his reported unhappiness. (7/10)

Substitutes

Javier Pastore: Came on for the final eight minutes and gave the ball away in his own half several times, without showing any desire to win it back. May not have been happy to be on the bench after a bright start to the season. (5/10)

Ezequiel Lavezzi: Was brought on at the same time as Pastore to try to restore PSG's lead and went on one mazy dribble, but could not produce the final ball. (6/10)


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Ajax Amsterdam's Lasse Schone celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Champions League football match Ajax Amsterdam vs Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in Amsterdam, on September 17, 2014
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Match Analysis: Ajax 1-1 PSG
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