Ajax draw with Apoel in Champions League play-off

Wednesday, 21 August 2019 11:48

APOEL's midfielder Musa Suliman is marked by Ajax's defender Nicolas Tagliafico (AFP)

Ajax clung on to secure a goalless draw in the first-leg of the Champions League play-off tie with Apoel Nicosia.

The four-time winners and last season's semi-finalists played the last 10 minutes with ten men after Noussair Mazraoui was shown a red card, and were indebted to goalkeeper André Onana for pulling off a number of spectacular saves.

Ajax, who lost star players Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong over the summer but managed to keep the bulk of their team together, will host their Cypriot opponents in Amsterdam in the second leg on August 28, with a place in the group stage up for grabs.

Elsewhere, Slavia Prague overcame Cluj 1-0 thanks to a stunning strike from Lukas Masopust, while Club Brugge also won by a single goal at LASK Linz, with Hans Vanaken netting an early penalty.

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