Tough Day at the Office: Hibs Suffer in Ajax Clash
In what was more a lesson in football finesse than a competitive match, Hibernian found themselves on the wrong end of a 6-3 defeat in their latest pre-season fixture against Ajax. The match, held behind closed doors at the Ajax training centre, was the second of Hibs' Dutch pre-season camp engagements and provided a stern test against the top-flight European side.
Early Setbacks
Steven Berghuis, the experienced Ajax striker, was quick off the mark scoring the first two goals and setting a daunting pace. Mika Godts, showing impressive agility and skill on the wing, added two more to the tally, punishing Hibs further despite a spirited response from skipper Martin Boyle, who managed to put his team on the scoreboard.
Defensive Woes
Before the sides could head into half-time, Ajax's Kian Fitz-Jim exploited gaps in the Hibs defence to make it an overwhelming 5-1. The aggressive pressing game from Ajax left Hibs reeling and seemed to slice through our midfield and defence with alarming ease. The second half began with yet another goal for Ajax, this time from Ahmetcan Kaplan who found space in the box to head home from a corner.
Signs of Resistance
Despite the scoreline, there were glimmers of resilience from Hibs. Junior Hoilett, buoyed by a new one-year contract, showed some of the quality Hibs fans adore, beautifully scoring off an assist from newcomer Josh Mulligan. Towards the match's close, Kieron Bowie scrambled in a third for Hibs, demonstrating that even in tough times, there’s fight in the team.
This match was undeniably a tough encounter, something to truly test the mettle of our boys in green. Rather than a setback, let’s view it as a potent learning experience—Ajax’s playstyle offered a masterclass in precision and stamina that our lads can aspire to as the new season looms.
Looking Forward
Remember, fellow Hibs supporters, pre-season is a time for ironing out the kinks, not for panic. We’ve stood through tougher seasons and always come out stronger. With a few tactical tweaks and bolstering our backline, there’s every chance we’ll see a team ready to contend at the top once the competitive action kicks off.
We march into the season not just with hopes but with a sturdy belief that the green tide can rise all the way to league glory, and why not dare to dream of a Scottish Cup final appearance?
And now, for a bit of light-hearted banter to round off:
How many Hearts fans does it take to change a light bulb?
Just one, but they’ll spend the whole time complaining that it's not as bright as it used to be during the famous '98 season!
