Ajax coach Frank de Boer was critical of his side despite their 3-1 away win over Noordwijk in the second round of the KNVB Beker last night.

The 18-time cup winners progressed thanks to goals by Siem de Jong, Dmitri Bulykin and debutant Lesley De Sa, with Sijbren Bartlema netting Noordwijk's consolation.

De Boer used the game to experiment with his line-up and welcomed three new faces to his squad, but he was less than satisfied with their efforts against third-tier opposition.

"You come here with the idea to play many of the guys who don't get many minutes in the first team," De Boer told the club's website.

I thought we were impatient. We wanted to score too quickly, we wanted to be on the opposite side in a minute.
Frank de Boer, Ajax coach

"It's a shame that that our play was a bit disappointing. I thought we were impatient. We wanted to score too quickly, we wanted to be on the opposite side in a minute.

"The first half was especially sloppy. We were only 1-0 ahead at the break. I told them that we needed to play the ball from left to right faster. The match was then a done deal in a matter of minutes."

Despite his dissatisfaction, De Boer reserved praise for Noordwijk's efforts. "I want to compliment Noordwijk, because they really wanted to make a game of it," he said. "I think the 6,000 spectators can be pleased, although I would have preferred to have a bigger win.

"But we've reached the next round of the cup tournament. Hopefully we'll show some more lively football at a later stage."