Ajax face Pienaar absence
Friday, February 18, 2005
Article summary
AFC Ajax have lost Steven Pienaar for the UEFA Cup return leg at AJ Auxerre because of knee ligament damage.
Article body
AFC Ajax will be without midfield player Steven Pienaar for up to four weeks after he damaged ligaments in his left knee during Wednesday’s 1-0 home win against AJ Auxerre in the UEFA Cup.
Misses return leg
The South African international was replaced by Antony Obodai just before half-time after twisting his knee, and he will definitely miss the return leg of the Round of 32 tie at the Abbé Deschamps stadium next week.
Others missing
Coach Ronald Koeman, who is already missing two other midfield players in Wesley Sneijder and Tomáš Galásek, feared the worse about Pienaar immediately after the match. "I do not want to sound pessimistic, but I think we will have to miss him for a few weeks," he said.
