Bab 155: Yang Yang vs Van Gaal II
As the referee, Dick van Egmond, blew the whistle to signal the end of the first half, the entire Amsterdam Arena erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.
Thanks to Yang Yang's brace, Ajax held a narrow 2-1 lead over Alkmaar going into the break.
Yang Yang, drenched in sweat, was all smiles as he walked off the pitch, high-fiving his teammates along the way. His performance had sparked energy and confidence throughout the team.
Referee Van Egmond, who had developed a positive impression of Yang Yang over the season, extended his hand as Yang Yang approached. Yang Yang had a reputation among Dutch referees as a fair player—one who avoided unsportsmanlike tactics, stayed focused on the game, and never resorted to theatrics, even when fouled. His professionalism and consistently strong performances had earned him respect.
"Thanks, Dick!" Yang Yang said, shaking hands with the referee.
"Keep it up," Van Egmond replied with an encouraging nod before heading back toward the tunnel with his assistants.
Yang Yang then noticed Van Gaal standing at the entrance of the players' tunnel, a stern expression on his face, his frustration evident.
"Hey, Coach, how does it feel to be back at the Amsterdam Arena?" Yang Yang called out with a playful grin.
Van Gaal shot him a glare, clearly irritated but without losing his composure.
"The game's not over yet, so don't get too comfortable," Van Gaal replied, his voice low and controlled.
Yang Yang, undeterred, kept smiling. "Oh, I'm just enjoying the moment."
The look in Van Gaal's eyes suggested he was half-amused, half-exasperated with the young player's confidence.
"I told you I wouldn't disappoint," Yang Yang added cheekily. "That was just the first half, and I'm not planning on slowing down in the second."
With a playful wave, Yang Yang turned and jogged into the tunnel. Van Gaal watched him go, a wry smile breaking through his frustration.
"This cheeky kid…" he muttered, shaking his head with a reluctant grin.
...
...
"Alkmaar's defense is solid, especially through the middle," one player remarked as Ajax's team gathered in the locker room at halftime.
"Yeah, looks like we'll need to keep pressing from the right in the second half."
"It's interesting. Van Gaal, who once prioritized offensive play, has turned defensive at Alkmaar. Didn't see that coming," another player commented with a chuckle.
"Some principles are universal," someone replied. "Van Gaal may be famous for attacking football, but he's a balanced coach who knows the importance of a strong defense. Besides, he has his assistants to help where needed."
Ajax's 2-1 lead gave the players a cautious confidence. They were ahead, but Alkmaar had proven resilient, improving consistently as the season progressed. Though they might lack Ajax's quality, Alkmaar's performances on the pitch had earned them their place at the top of the Eredivisie standings.
Sneijder glanced over at Yang Yang, who had been unusually quiet. "Yang, what do you think?" he asked, curious.
Lately, Yang Yang's input had become invaluable in the locker room. His calm insights often guided the team's focus, though neither he nor his teammates had consciously realized how much they'd come to rely on his perspective.
Yang Yang looked up thoughtfully, drawing everyone's attention. "I noticed something interesting about Van Gaal's tactics," he began.
"Van Gaal believes in dominating the game through tactics, but that approach demands a high level of skill from his players. This season, we and Eindhoven use similar tactics, but there's a difference—Eindhoven starts from a defensive mindset, while Van Gaal's approach has always been rooted in attack."
These different priorities affect player selection, routines, and overall style. But for fans, the differences might not be as noticeable.
"Alkmaar's players lack the individual skill to execute Van Gaal's pressing game flawlessly, so they rely on intense positioning. I don't know if you've noticed, but when the ball shifts to one side, Alkmaar's players and their defensive line move quickly to that side, aiming to outnumber and press."
In theory, Yang Yang explained, if the press was tight enough and players held their positions well, it would be nearly impossible for the opposition to break through.
"But Alkmaar's players struggle to keep that formation perfect. When they shift rapidly, their defensive support often stretches beyond the ideal ten-meter range, leaving gaps."
Ajax was familiar with this tactic, so Yang Yang had observed it closely.
His two goals in the first half had followed a similar pattern: he'd pulled wide to receive the ball, then cut inside at high speed. By exploiting Alkmaar's defensive shape, he'd forced errors, capitalizing on gaps to score.
Tactical theory may look flawless on paper, but with eleven players on the pitch, mistakes were inevitable.
"You're exactly right, Yang Yang!" Ronald Koeman's voice came from the doorway. The players turned to find both the head coach and Ruud Krol standing there, having listened quietly.
"Alkmaar's players are still adjusting to Van Gaal's style, which means they're prone to lapses," Koeman explained. "We'll use that in the second half—drawing their defense to one side and then quickly switching play to attack the other flank!"
Switching from one side to another suddenly is a classic move, designed to break defensive concentration.
Yang Yang nodded, understanding the plan. "So, we'll fake an attack down the right and then switch quickly to the left to create a scoring chance?"
"Exactly!" Koeman said, pleased with Yang Yang's grasp of the tactic.
Both Koeman and Krol had come to recognize Yang Yang's quick thinking and tactical insight, attributes that had made him a standout player and a respected voice within the team. Despite a rigorous season, he maintained some of the top academic scores in his studies, earning him a reputation as Ajax's "scholar."
"Alkmaar's right side has weakened due to Jan Kromkamp's injury, and Van Gaal is naturally wary of our right-wing attack," Koeman continued. "With Yang Yang's two goals in the first half, they'll be even more cautious. We can use that to create space on the left."
Yang Yang had become a strategic asset for Ajax; wherever he moved, Alkmaar's defense had to respond. After his impactful first half, Van Gaal couldn't afford to leave him unchecked.
This was Ajax's greatest advantage, and one Alkmaar lacked—they had no ace like Yang Yang to shift the balance.
...
...
As the teams switched sides and resumed play for the second half, Van Gaal quickly sensed something was off.
Ajax came out strong, pressing aggressively and maintaining control, once again attacking down the right flank where Yang Yang and Maicon formed a formidable partnership. Their right-wing attack had terrorized opponents throughout the Eredivisie, so it was no surprise Ajax would focus there. Yet, an unsettling feeling nagged at Van Gaal.
In the 51st minute, just six minutes after the restart, Yang Yang's play on the right drew Alkmaar's defensive focus, cleverly diverting their attention. With Alkmaar's defenders fixated on Yang Yang, he deftly passed the ball across to the left.
Maxwell charged forward, expertly chesting the ball down along the left wing. Linking up with Pienaar in a well-timed one-two, Maxwell sent a cross into the penalty area.
Sneijder arrived at the top of the box, timing his run perfectly, and struck a powerful volley, beating the goalkeeper and pushing Ajax's lead to 3-1.
This was the moment Van Gaal realized Koeman's strategy had outmaneuvered him.
Despite quickly making defensive adjustments, Van Gaal's team struggled to regain control. Ajax, full of confidence and energy, kept up their relentless rhythm, forcing Alkmaar further back.
Then, only nine minutes later, Ajax struck again. After Yang Yang and Maicon combined on the right, Yang Yang dribbled horizontally, drawing the defense before laying off the ball to Sneijder. Sneijder promptly threaded a diagonal pass to Pienaar in the left side of the box.
Presented with a golden opportunity, the South African international didn't hesitate, firing a clean shot into the net. 4-1.
Van Gaal, visibly frustrated, stood at the edge of the technical area, his dissatisfaction evident.
Finally, after Ajax's fourth goal, Van Gaal made two substitutions, hoping to turn the tide. The changes injected some life into the game for Alkmaar, and in the 86th minute, Adil Ramzi, one of the substitutes, provided an assist, helping his teammate pull a goal back to make it 2-4.
But by then, the match was beyond recovery.
Yang Yang, having played a stellar game, was substituted in the 78th minute, giving way to Ryan Babel. The final score stood at 4-2, with Ajax emerging victorious, thanks to Yang Yang's two goals.
Despite this win, Ajax remained in second place on the league table. PSV Eindhoven narrowly defeated Groningen 1-0 with a goal from Farfan, keeping them at the top.
Feyenoord, meanwhile, displayed their inconsistency once more, losing 4-1 away to Den Bosch. In the 17th minute, Pascal Bosschaart received a red card and conceded a penalty, setting the stage for Feyenoord's heavy defeat.
With Dirk Kuyt failing to score, his tally remained at 22 goals. Yang Yang's two goals in this round brought his total to 20, closing the gap in the race for the Eredivisie's top scorer.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
GxDesailly
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