Ajax Coach Hails Yakubu

AFC Ajax coach Ronald Koeman admitted he was a little disappointed that his side had only managed a 0-0 draw at home to AC Milan in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg but was impressed with Ghanaian international Abubakari Yakubu and singled him out as the best player on the night.

Koeman surprisingly replaced suspended striker Andy van der Meyde with Yakubu, whom he deployed in a defensive midfield role, but the young Ghanaian's performance thoroughly vindicated the selection.

"Tonight, Yakubu proved that he really adds something to my team," said Koeman. "Besides his power, he also showed that he can really play football."

The Ghanaian international had a free role as an extra central defender and was hardly reckoned with by Milan for most of the first half. Only in the closing minutes of the first half Gattuso went on to play Yakubu, who came forward regularly and was always open to receive passes. "Yakubu was the best player on the night", Koeman agreed. "He was really fantastic!"

The match wasn't as attractive as everybody expected. Milan started better and went close to the lead in the 5th minute with a shot by Shevchenko, well saved by Lobont.

However, Ajax reacted strongly and put a huge pressure on the Rossoneri for the rest of the first half, especially on the right with Trabelsi and Pienaar, but Milan defended very well and Koeman's men were never effective in front of Dida's net.

The second part of the match was pretty balanced. Ajax wasted their lone real chance in the 60th minute, when van der Vaart missed the deflection on a shot by Pienaar.

On their part, Milan had a couple of opportunities with Rui Costa and especially with Ambrosini, whose shot in the 71st minute was well saved by Lobont.

Nothing else happened in the last part of the match, as both sides looked extremely tired.