Edwin van der Sar Testimonial



Amsterdam ArenA, 3 August 2011
Ajax U13 2-2 Man Utd U13 Ajax '95 1-0 Holland '98
Ajax 1-2 Edwin's Dream Team

 

Edwin says his farewells

Edwin van der Sar bowed out of football on a high during an emotional testimonial night in Amsterdam.
Ajax staged a fitting tribute to the great goalkeeper and the evening ended with several United stalwarts - Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney - turning out in Edwin's Dream Team.
Gary Neville also played for the star-studded side, managed by Sir Alex, who took the lead at the start of the second half when Everton's former Red Louis Saha latched onto Ferdinand's through ball to score. Van der Sar was beaten by a Rodney Sneijder rocket that came back off a post and Derk Boerrigter stroked in the rebound for the equaliser.
Carrick was replaced in the first half by Edgar Davids and a number of substitutions took place as the match was played at a pedestrian pace but a goal of genuine quality proved decisive. Giggs and Rooney were heavily involved in the build-up and Dennis Bergkamp drilled in an unerring finish.
In the earlier games, United's Under-13s drew 2-2 with their Ajax counterparts thanks to two goals by Callum Gribbin. Edwin's son Joe played in goal for the young Reds and Melle Meulensteen also got a run-out. Van der Sar (Senior) then kept a clean sheet as Ajax '95 beat Holland '98 through a Marc Overmars strike.
Edwin's Dream Team: Van der Sar; Neville, van Bronckhorst, Ferdinand, Vidic; Carrick, Giggs, Zenden, Kuyt; Rooney, Saha.



Legend: Football paid tribute to Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar in Amsterdam

 

 

Family affair: Van der Sar's son Joe, who is on Manchester United's books, featured in an early game

His son Joey, also a goalkeeper, opened the festivities with a training match between Manchester United D1 and Ajax D1.

 

 

A Dream Team XI featuring the likes of Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Dirk Kuyt, Edgar Davids, Rio Ferdinand and Dennis Bergkamp took the field to play the current Ajax crop, with the Arsenal great getting on the scoresheet along with Louis Saha in a 2-1 win.

 

Wayne Rooney and Dennis Bergkamp star in Edwin Van der Sar's testimonial - Edwin Van der Sar’s testimonial day at Ajax seemed like it was plucked straight from the field of fantasy, so fittingly it was the dream team duo of Dennis Bergkamp and Wayne Rooney that finished it off.

 

 

 

Speaking to the crowd afterwards, Van der Sar, who left the field to a standing ovation shortly before the end, said: 'I want to thank everyone in the stadium, thanks for your support down through the years. I will never forget this night.'

Others were quick to praise the 40-year-old.