News

© AP, Jul 28, 2010

Ajax held 1-1 by PAOK in qualifier

Four-time European champion Ajax was held to a 1-1 draw by PAOK, and FC Braga beat Celtic 3-0 in the third round of qualifying for the Champions League on Wednesday.

© AP

Luis Suarez put Ajax ahead with a 13th-minute overhead kick, but Vladimir Ivic scored a crucial away goal for PAOK after a counterattack in the 72nd minute of the first leg at Amsterdam Arena.

Ajax had a penalty appeal in the final seconds dismissed when Anis Boussaidi appeared to handle a cross from Suarez, whose goal-line handball against Ghana helped Uruguay reach the World Cup semifinals.

It was a worse night for another former European champion, with Celtic failing to get a single shot on target at Braga.

Alan scored first from the penalty spot after Ki Sung-Yeung had handled the ball. Uwa Elderson Echiejile hit a debut goal and substitute Nascimento Matheus scored from a free kick.

The winners of the 15 qualifiers next week will have to contest another playoff before reaching the 32-team group stage.

Ivica Ilijev, Sasa Ilic and Gabriel Cleo gave Partizan Belgrade a 3-0 victory over HJK Helsinki. Rosenborg defeated AIK Stockholm 1-0 in a Scandinavian derby thanks to 18-year-old Markus Henriksen's goal, and Kazakhstan champion Aktobe downed Hapoel Tel Aviv 1-0 following captain Samat Smakov's penalty kick.

Swiss champion FC Basel won 2-0 at Debreceni, while Young Boys drew 2-2 at home against Fenerbahce after twice falling behind.

Alexander Erokhin scored an away goal for Dinamo Zagreb in a 1-1 draw with Sheriff in Moldova, while BATE Borisov drew 0-0 at home with FC Copenhagen.

Comment (0)
Your Say
Name :


Message *


Type the code shown *
  Can't read this?




  • Facebook
  • Buzz on Twitter