The home side were praised for their fighting spirit and their willpower. ,,We justly lost to a more aggressive Roda JC’’, said Ajax coach Henk ten Cate. Aggression, spirit and the will to win; Ajax lacked the ingredients for success on this afternoon and Roda had them in spades. Ajax, where Hedwiges Maduro was out sick, seemed covered with a blanket of numbness.

Defender Davy de Fauw struck the first blow after eight minutes. He headed in a free kick. ,,Because we started so badly, we have ourselves to blame for this result’’, said captain Jaap Stam. ,,Of course you try to turn it around. But if you begin so poorly, you let the opponent get into the match.’’

Ajax clearly lost the battle inj midfield in the first half. Roger and Gabri were no match for their opponents, and Ajax could not get a grip on Roda.

Playing with great intensity, the home team cleverly used the fact that Ajax were still tired from their match against IK Start in Norway on Thursday. Boldizsár Bodor scored Roda's second goal after thirty minutes. The Hungarian was not stopped on his way toward the goal and he could relatively easy strike the ball past Maarten Stekelenburg: 2-0.

On the offensive half, Ajax proved powerless, except for a strike by Wesley Sneijder who hit the post. Roda were hardly ever in danger of losing their advantage.