22-11-77: Ajax Amsterdam (a) 2-1 (HT 2-0) Crowd (11,565)

David McNiven replaced Eddie Gray at Outside Right, at half time for Leeds and, for Ajax, Simon Tahamala came on at Inside Left for Ruud Geels, after eighty-four minutes. Tony Currie scored an own goal in the seventy-eighth minute to allow Ajax back into the game. T.L. Morris (Leeds) was the referee.

Programme:

Match Action: Courtesy Mark Ledgard: Joe Jordan scores first goal after thirty-six minutes

Match Report: Courtesy Mark Ledgard:

Clarke goal brightens up Silver Jubilee flop

Leeds United 2 Ajax 1 by Barry Foster

Joe Jordan, the striker who has whet the appetite of former European giantsAjax, gave them a taste of his marksmanship when Leeds United comfortably defeated the Dutch champions at Elland Road last night. But it was his co-striker, Allan Clarke, who was returning from the shadows who provided the real feast as Leeds collected the winners Jubilee Trophy. The former England striker, who has not played since the F.A. Cup Semi-Final defeat by Manchester United last April, because of a knee injury, struck a magical second goal for Leeds and showed many of his old deft touches. Jordan nevertheless, turned in a powerful display against the man-for-man marking former triple champions of Europe it had been hoped would provide a big attraction. But the showpiece game was a disappointment at the gate. Proceeds from the match were to go to the Queen's Silver Jubilee Fund but with Ajax on something approaching £15,000 for their night's workthe attendance of 11,565 represented only a breakeven figure for the organizing committee. Mr Brian Roberts, a member of the committee and a Leeds director said afterwards "There will be very little for the fund. We are terribly disappointed. All we were interested in was benefitting Leeds youth and sport, but it looks like we shall just about break even on the night, Receipts were about £14,000." "I will suggest a donation from the club by way of a direct contribution or if you like a whip-round." he added. Even with the added spice of a possible move by Jordan to the Dutch side the match failed to catch the imagination of the Yorkshire public. Nevertheless two sides produced entertaining if sometimes sedate football with Leeds moving into the lead in the thirty-sixth minute through Jordan. Moments earlier Ajax's goalkeeper Schrijvers had saved brilliantly from Clarke and Eddie Gray, but when Leeds next attacked down the left his defence left him stranded-Jordan outmanoeuvring themwith his well-timed run to Graham's low centre. The final touch was a formality into the roof of the net for the Scot, but formality was the last word one could use to describe Clarke's goal just before the interval. He played the ball out to Eddie Gray on the right and took the return pass a yard outside the penalty area still to the right of goal. He looked to be striking the ball nonchalantly, but the speed at which it flew into the corner of the net said something very different. It was the Clarke of old at his best. The Dutchmen should have pulled a goal back twenty-two minutes from the end, when they were awarded a penalty, after Geels was baulked by Cherry. The blond Dutch striker took the kick himself but Harvey saved well. They did manage some consolation, however, in the seventy-eighth minute, when Currie, trying to cut out a cross from Meijer, turned the ball into his own net. In a curtain raiser John Charles' ex-Leeds players were beaten 4-0 by Leeds Juniors with Sturman and Daly both scoring twice.