Ajax, Young Boys and AEK Reach UCL Group Stage
Former European Cup winners Ajax Amsterdam eased into the Champions League group stage after a 0-0 draw at Dynamo Kiev in an eventful second leg of their playoff gave the Dutch side a 3-1 aggregate win over the Ukrainians on Tuesday.
Ajax were joined by Young Boys, who stunned Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 away for a 3-2 aggregate win over the Croatians, and AEK Athens who scraped a 1-1 home draw with FC Vidi after a 2-1 win in the first leg in Hungary.
Dynamo Kiev piled on the pressure in the opening 10 minutes at the Olympic stadium as Benjamin Verbic forced a good save from Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana but the home side soon fizzled out as the visitors displayed superior skill.
Young Boys reached the money-spinning group stage of Europe’s elite club competition for the first time after 34-year-old striker Guillaume Hoarau scored twice in two minutes midway through the second half to silence a packed Maksimir stadium.
AEK, who last played in the group stage in the 2006-2007 season, had a seemingly simple task after their win in Hungary but were forced to hang on in a dramatic finish of the return leg in Athens.
