Ajax v Manchester City friendly 1969/70

 AJAX 3 CITY 3

Friendly

26th July 1969

Attendance ???

Scorers
City Young(4 & ?),Bell(48))
Ajax van Dijk, Cruyff, Cruyff

Ajax Stuy, Suurbier, Hulshoff, Vasovic, Krol, Sendergaard, Rjinders, Groot, van Dijk, Cruyff, Keizer – sub Muhren(46)

FROM THE PRESS BOX

PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 28TH JULY 169
Just one save by giant goalkeeper Joe Corrigan could have booked him a place in City’s Charity Shield team for Saturday’s classic against Leeds United at Elland Road.
It came near the end of a stirring City display against crack Dutch side Ajax, beaten European Cup finalists, in the humid, stamina draining atmosphere of the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam.
… Corrigan’s magnificent leap to save a searing shot from midfield man Soendergaard… helped the Blues to earn a morale boosting 3-3 draw.
The Blues’ first match on the Continent since their defeat by Fenerbahce in the Champions’ Cup produced some of the qualities they must adopt in the Cup Winners’ competition this season.
But at the same time City must also learn to be more ruthless, particularly at the back where there remains a certain slackness which gives opponents that extra inch of space in which to move.
It is a luxury the City attack can never expect to receive, although the front line in Amsterdam must be highly complimented on scoring three goals against a side who never conceded as many in one match at all last term.
At least two of the three goals Ajax scored were carelessly conceded with City too easily losing possession in midfield.
But over 90 minutes City did enough to assure that they can build on the success that has been achieved in the last four years.