Ajax Amsterdam qualified for the UEFA Cup after finishing third in Champions League Group C with a 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
The Dutch side pipped Maccabi Tel Aviv for a place in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup because of a better head-to-head record after both teams finished with four points from six games.
| |||||||||||
Roy Makaay gave Bayern a ninth-minute lead but midfielder Tomas Galasek equalised seven minutes before the break. Striker Nicolae Mitea then put Ajax ahead in the 64th minute but Michael Ballack headed Bayern level 12 minutes from time.
"We didn't start well because we faced some problems with our organisation on our midfield and miscommunication in our defence gave Bayern the chance to open the scoring," Ajax coach Ronald Koeman told reporters.
"We played an excellent second half and knew we had to go for it with the half time score in Israel."
Bayern started without injured defender Willy Sagnol and midfielder Hasan Salihamidzic but took the lead after nine minutes when Ajax defender Julien Escude headed the ball to Makaay, who fired it past goalkeeper Hans Vonk.
Eight minutes later the home side, who started with captain Rafael van der Vaart on the bench, created their first chance when defender Hatem Trabelsi came in from the right flank and fired a shot from outside the box but Oliver Kahn blocked the ball with one hand.
Ajax needed 25 minutes to settle before midfielder Wesley Sneijder set up Ryan Babel but the 17-year-old fired wide.
Throughout the first half it was obvious Ajax would need luck to survive and that is what Ronald Koeman's team had seven minutes before the break when Galasek's deflected shot beat Kahn.
The Dutch champions started the second half strongly and Mitea put them ahead following a pass by Sneijder before Ballack earned Bayern a point by heading in a superb cross from Ze Roberto.
"We are pleased that we are the first German team to collect a point at Ajax," Bayern coach Felix Magath said.
"We started well with the early goal but we allowed Ajax back into the match.
"I am satisfied with our complete performance and the result and also the way we fought back."
More from rediff