VIDEO: id2 National Selection beats Ajax, Dennis Bergkamp on Ajax bench

US Club Soccer’s id² National Selection (1996-97) earned its second win in as many games Tuesday evening, a 3-2 defeat of Ajax C2 (1996) at the Ajax Training Complex in Amsterdam.

"This afternoon’s game against Ajax was a great opportunity for the [players] as we knew it would be," said Gerry McKeown, US Club Soccer\'s id² Boys\' Program Director and head coach of the id² National Selection. "The result maybe could have been a little bit easier for us. During the end of the game they put a lot of pressure and took a lot of risks. Overall, it was pretty exciting for our boys to be able play and also beat a team like Ajax."

Corey Baird (Escondido, Calif./San Diego Surf) gave the id² National Selection a 1-0 lead at halftime with a goal in the 17th minute on an assist from Chet Castellaw (Hidden Hills, Calif./Real So Cal).

It did not take the id² National Selection long to increase that lead once they came out of the locker room at halftime, as Wesley Wade (South Orange, N.J./New Jersey Rangers) ran onto a ball from Collin Fernandez (Downers Grove, Ill./Chicago Fire Juniors) and tucked the ball away for a 2-0 lead just three minutes into the second half.

Ade Taiwo (Raleigh, N.C./Triangle FC) added what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 61st minute on assists from Baird and Benny Swanson (Grove City, Ohio/Team Ohio FC).

Ajax stormed back and added goals in the 62nd and 67th minutes, putting the id² National Selection under heavy pressure, but the final whistle blew to secure the win for the Americans.

The id² National Selection held a slight advantage in shots (10-9), while both squads took six corner kicks.

Wade and Taiwo have scored in each of id² National Selection\'s first two games.

The squad ate both a pre-game meal and post-game dinner in the Ajax clubhouse, experiencing the complete European soccer experience on- and off-the-field.

After a Wednesday morning regeneration session, the squad will return to Amsterdam for a tour of Amsterdam ArenA and the city.

GAME SUMMARY:

Result:  id² National Selection (1996-97) [3], Ajax C2 (1996) [2]
Date:  Feb. 9, 2010
Kickoff:  4 p.m. CET
Venue:  Ajax Training Complex | Amsterdam, Netherlands

id² National Selection Scoring:
17th min. | Corey Baird (Chet Castellaw)
38th min. | Wesley Wade (Collin Fernandez)
61st min. | Ade Taiwo (Corey Baird; Benny Swanson)

2010 id2 NSIT Video Journal #2 from US Club Soccer on Vimeo.

Dutch and Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp was on the bench for the Ajax game, and the American players were able to get his autograph. Bergkamp grew up through the Ajax youth system, and now serves as an assistant coach for the club. For those of you who haven\'t seen Bergkamp in action, check out a video of his top 10 goals below: