Ajax and AEK on course for Champions League group stage

AMSTERDAM: Former European Cup winners Ajax Amsterdam stayed firmly on course to reach the Champions League group stage after a dazzling first half helped them to a 3-1 home win over Dynamo Kiev in the first leg of their playoff round tie.

Greek champions AEK Athens also put themselves in the driving seat with a 2-1 win at Hungary’s Vidi FC while Croatia’s Dinamo Zagreb ground out a 1-1 draw at Swiss champions Young Boys Bern.

Roared on by a fervent crowd in the Johan Cruyff Arena, Ajax raced into a second-minute lead after Dusan Tadic teed up Donny van de Beek to side-foot home a low shot which squeezed under goalkeeper Denys Bojko’s body.

Dynamo levelled in the 16th minute when right back Tomasz Kediora tapped in a rebound after Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana parried Tamas Kadar’s thumping header from a corner.

Kadar was at fault for Ajax’s second goal as a seemingly innocuous shot by Morocco midfielder Hakim Ziyech brushed his head and left Boyko stranded in the 35th minute.

Serbia winger Tadic made it 3-1 with a goal of the highest quality in the 43rd minute, superbly steering home an inviting cross by leftback Nicolas Tagliafico.

Ajax could have won by a bigger margin as Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Ziyech hit the woodwork with Dynamo subdued and barely able to get out of their own half. — Reuters