Memorable European Confrontations, Part 25-1993 Auxerre vs. Ajax Amsterdam

Auxerre and Ajax Amsterdam were paired in the Quarterfinals of the 1992/93 UEFA Cup.

The French squad managed by their long-serving Manager Guy Roux were consistent UEFA Cup qualifiers despite their limited financial means.

The squad was not made of stars, but shone as a collective unit.

They had qualified from their opening rounds by defeating Bulgaria’s Lokomotiv Plovdiv (2-2, 7-1), Denmark’s FC Copenhagen (2-0, 5-0 at home) and Belgium’s Standard Liege (2-2, 2-1).

Ajax, under the Management of Louis van Gaal, were the defending UEFA Cup Champions.

The squad contained a host of internationals and many future greats.

Dennis Bergkamp was the jewel in the crown. He and teammate Wim Jonk had just secured a lucrative transfer to Internazionale Milano for the following season.

They had qualified from their opening rounds by defeating Austria’s Salzburg (3-0, 3-1 at home), Portugal’s Vitoria Guimaraes (3-0, 2-1 at home) and Germany’s Kaiserslautern (2-o at home, 1-0).

It was a battle of two Footballing skills with emphasis on youth development and 4-3-3 formation.

The first leg, on March 3^rd, was played at Auxerre’s Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps.

Auxerre had been under some difficulty in the League and had lost five straight matches. In the days leading up to this tie, Guy Roux signed a new five-year contract.

Roux had been beset by public criticism from his own players. Team Captain William Prunier, due to their poor League form, had been besieged by jeers. He threatened to walk out of the French League altogether.

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 51, April 1993

(Daniel Dutuel and Danny Blind, March 3, 1993, UEFA Cup, Auxerre 4-Ajax Amsterdam 2)

Photo From: Le Livre d'or du Football 1993

(Gerard Baticle, March 3, 1993, UEFA Cup, Auxerre 4-Ajax Amsterdam 2)

Winger Christophe Cocard had complained of Roux’s brand of Management. He claimed the paternal Roux treated the players like children. They had no freedom and liberties under him.  He likened going to training like working at a factory.

Roux resolved the situation (after his new 5 year contract in hand) by authorizing Prunier to leave at end of season and threatened Cocard with dismissal.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2448, March 9, 1993

(Sonny Silooy and Pascal Vahirua, March 3, 1993, UEFA Cup, Auxerre 4-Ajax Amsterdam 2)

Auxerre were behind as early as the third minute, when a free kick taken by Jonk from the left, was slightly touched on by Vink and fell for Pettersson to score. At this point it may have looked like the more experienced Ajax side would go and win by even more goals.

However, Auxerre leaving aside their poor domestic form continued to attack.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2448, March 9, 1993

(Marc Overmars and Daniel Dutuel, March 3, 1993, UEFA Cup, Auxerre 4-Ajax Amsterdam 2)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2448, March 9, 1993

(March 3, 1993, UEFA Cup, Auxerre 4-Ajax Amsterdam 2)

In the 17^th minute they leveled the score. A corner from left by Dutuel was headed back across and former Ajax defender Franck Verlaat volleyed it. Stanley Menzo should have saved it, but went past him.

Auxerre went ahead in the 43^rd from a beautifully curled free kick scored by Corentin Martins.

However, just before halftime, Bergkamp found Marciano Vink and he smashed his shot home.

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 51, April 1993

(Daniel Dutuel and Marciano Vink, March 3, 1993, UEFA Cup, Auxerre 4-Ajax Amsterdam 2)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 51, April 1993

(Corentin Martins scoring Auxerre’s second goal from free kick, March 3, 1993, UEFA Cup, Auxerre 4-Ajax Amsterdam 2)

Undeterred in the second half, the home team continued attacking and were finally rewarded in the 82^nd minute through another error by Menzo.

Pascal Vahirua took a corner from the right side, Menzo tried to punch it clear but instead he deflected it in.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2448, March 9, 1993

(Daniel Dutuel, March 3, 1993, UEFA Cup, Auxerre 4-Ajax Amsterdam 2)

Photo From: L’Annee  du Football 1993

(Corentin Martins celebrating, March 3, 1993, UEFA Cup, Auxerre 4-Ajax Amsterdam 2)

The rout was complete in the 90^th minute, by the impressive Dutuel. Martins from the middle passed to Laslandes who in turn sent Dutuel clear to go and score the fourth.

This was Ajax’s first defeat in Europe after 18 matches.

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 51, April 1993

(Daniel Dutuel scoring Auxerre’s fourth goal, March 3, 1993, UEFA Cup, Auxerre 4-Ajax Amsterdam 2)

Auxerre defenders Alain Goma and Stephane Mazzolini had successfully controlled Overmars and Bergkamp throughout the match.

Prunier declared the win justified the virtues of a 4-3-3 formation.

Guy Roux believed that Ajax had taken them lightly and had not expected an aggressive attacking game from them.

However, the tie was not over and a (2-0) win at home was not beyond Ajax’s capabilities.

Photo From: L’Annee  du Football 1993

(Auxerre players celebrating, March 3, 1993, UEFA Cup, Auxerre 4-Ajax Amsterdam 2)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Hors Serie 14, 1993

(Daniel Dutuel after scoring Auxerre’s fourth goal, March 3, 1993, UEFA Cup, Auxerre 4-Ajax Amsterdam 2)

March 3, 1993

Association de La Jeunesse Auxerroise (France) 4-Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax (Holland) 2

UEFA Cup- Quarter Finals, First Leg

Venue: Auxerre-Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps

Attendance: 18,000

Referee: Arcangelo Pezzella (Italy)

Goalscorers: (Auxerre): Franck Verlaat 17^th, Corentin Martins 43^rd,

         Pascal Vahirua 82^nd, Daniel Dutuel 90^th

                    (Ajax): Stefan Pettersson 3^rd , Marciano Vink 45^th

Lineups:

Auxerre:

1-Bruno Martini, 2-Alain Goma, 3-William Prunier (12-Thierry Bonalair 62^nd), 4-Franck Verlaat (Holland), 5-Stephane Mazzolini, 8-Daniel Dutuel, 6-Raphael Guerreiro, 10-Martins, 7-Christophe Cocard, 9-Gerard Baticle (15-Lilian Laslandes 81^st), 11-Pascal Vahirua

Coach: Guy Roux

Other Subs: 1-Fabien Cool, 13-Franck Rabarivony, 14-Didier Otokore (Ivory Coast)

Team Captain: William Prunier (Daniel Dutuel assumed captaincy 62^nd)

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Uhlsport

Shirt Sponsor:  Commodore

Uniform Colors: White Shirts , White Shorts, White Socks

Ajax:

1-Stanley Menzo, 2-Sonny Silooy, 3-Danny Blind, 5-Frank de Boer, 7-Rob Alflen, 4-Wim Jonk (13-Michel Kreek 56^th), 6-Marciano Vink, 8-Edgar Davids, 10-Dennis Bergkamp, 9-Stefan Pettersson (Sweden), 11-Marc Overmars (14-Jari Litmanen (Finland) 86^th)

Coach: Louis van Gaal

Booked: Frank de Boer 27, Danny Blind 29

Other Subs: 12-Edwin van der sar, 15-Clyde Wynhard, 16-Alfons Groenedijk

Team Captain: Danny Blind

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Umbro

Shirt Sponsor: ABN-Amro

Uniform Colors: Green Shirts, Green Shorts, Green Socks

The second leg, on March 16^th, was played at Amsterdam’s De Meer Stadion.

Stanley Menzo had nailed his own coffin after one poor display too many.

The new starting Ajax goalkeeper was the young Edwin van der Sar.

Wim Jonk was also missing and Michel Kreek repalced him in the lineup.

For Auxerre, William Prunier had some injury worries, despite being fit to play. Franck Rabarivony started in defense in place of Mazzolini.

Photo From: Le Livre d'or du Football 1993

(Former Ajax teammates, Franck Verlaat and Dennis Bergkamp, March 16, 1993, UEFA Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 1-Auxerre 0)

Ajax defender Sonny Silooy had declared that defensively Auxerre were weak and was confident of overturning the deficit.

Louis van Gaal declared that they would press so hard, that Auxerre’s wingers would be pushed back to play near Auxerre goalkeeper Martini.

This statement angered the French specially Dutuel felt the opposition showed a lack of respect of them.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2450, March 23, 1993

(Corentin Martins, March 16, 1993, UEFA Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 1-Auxerre 0)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2450, March 23, 1993

(Corentin Martins, March 16, 1993, UEFA Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 1-Auxerre 0)

Predictably, Ajax dominated at home and attacked while Auxerre tried to hold firm.

In their many breakaways, Auxerre actually had at least five god chances to score that were wasted.

In the 18^th minute, Ajax Captain Danny Blind was forced off injured and he was replaced with 17-year-old Clarence Seedorf.

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 51, April 1993

(Pascal Vahirua and Frank De Boer, March 16, 1993, UEFA Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 1-Auxerre 0)

Ajax continued to press and both Pettersson and Alflen hit the post. A penalty kick appeal for Bergkamp was also denied.

Finally in the 61^st minute, Ajax broke the deadlock.

Alflen took free kick from the right and Frank de Boer powerfully headed it in.

There was still half an hour to go and qualification was still possible for Ajax who continued to press.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2450, March 23, 1993

(March 16, 1993, UEFA Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 1-Auxerre 0)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 68, September 1994

(Corentin Martins and Marciano Vink, March 16, 1993, UEFA Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 1-Auxerre 0)

Auxerre’s wingers Cocard and Vahirua seemed tired towards the end and could go forward no longer. Martini had to come to the rescue and make two good saves from Pettersson and Bergkamp near the end.

Auxerre held on and Ajax were eliminated. They had eliminated a top European side and written its part of history in European competition.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2450, March 23, 1993

(Auxerre’s Gerard Bourgoin and Christophe Cocard celebrating, March 16, 1993, UEFA Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 1-Auxerre 0)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 51, April 1993

(Bruno Martini making a save, March 16, 1993, UEFA Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 1-Auxerre 0)

Auxerre were stopped in the semifinals by a new up and coming European power Borussia Dortmund after a penalty kick shoot-out.

The win over Ajax, also galvanized and helped improve their form for the rest of the season.

Stanley Menzo was the starting Ajax and National Team goalkeeper at the start of the season. By the end of the season, he had lost both positions.

Edwin van der Sar went on to have along and distinguished career for club(s) and country for the remainder of his career.

Ajax, though they won the Cup title, had a disappointing season.

However, van Gaal was already plotting Ajax’s rise.

The following season, Jari Litmanen was installed up front and Seedorf, Davids and other young players improved further and won the League title three years in a row, not to mention the 1995 Champions League.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2450, March 23, 1993

(Auxerre’s William Prunier, March 16, 1993, UEFA Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 1-Auxerre 0)

March 16, 1993

Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax (Holland) 1-Association de La Jeunesse Auxerroise (France) 0

UEFA Cup- Quarter Finals, Second Leg

Venue: Amsterdam-De Meer Stadion

Attendance: 18,000

Referee: Kurt Rothlisberger (Switzerland)

Goalscorers: (Ajax): Frank De Boer 61^st 

                    (Auxerre): None

Lineups:

Ajax:

1-Edwin van der Sar, 2-Sonny Silooy, 5-Frank de Boer, 8-Michel Kreek, 6-Marciano Vink (13-Johnny Hansen (Denmark)  57^th), 3-Danny Blind (16-Clarence Seedorf 18^th), 4-Rob Alflen, 10-Dennis Bergkamp, 7-Marc Overmars, 9-Stefan Pettersson (Sweden), 11-Edgar Davids

Coach: Louis van Gaal

Booked: Sonny Silooy 32   

Team Captain: Danny Blind (Stefan Pettersson assumed captaincy 18^th minute)

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Umbro

Shirt Sponsor: ABN-Amro

Uniform Colors: Red/White Shirts, White Shorts, White Socks

Auxerre:

1-Bruno Martini, 2-Alain Goma , 3-William Prunier , 4-Franck Verlaat (Holland), 5-Frnack Rabarivony, 8-Daniel Dutuel, 6-Raphael Guerreiro, 10-Corentin Martins, 7-Christophe Cocard, 9-Gerard Baticle (12-Laurent Ciechelski 89^th), 11-Pascal Vahirua

Coach: Guy Roux

Booked: Raphael Guerreiro 39

Team Captain: William Prunier 

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Uhlsport

Shirt Sponsor:  Commodore

Uniform Colors: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts, Blue Socks