Sport

Ajax, Celtic |in nightmare Champions League starts

July 29, 2010 Edition 1

Soccer

PARIS: Former European champions Celtic and Ajax were battling for Champions League survival yesterday after enduring nightmare starts to their qualifying campaigns.

Celtic, with Neil Lennon taking charge of his first European tie, slumped to a 3-0 defeat to Sporting Braga in Portugal in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie.

Ajax, four-time winners of Europe's premier club tournament and coached by former Tottenham boss Martin Jol, were held 1-1 at home by PAOK Athens.

Braga, who won all but one game and conceded just six times at home in their run to second place in the Portuguese league last season, were ahead in the 25th minute against Celtic.

Alan Silva converted a penalty after South Korean international Ki Sung-Yeung blocked a cross in the box with his arm.

Braga, playing in the Champions League for the first time after finishing behind title winners Benfica in the Portuguese championship last season, doubled their lead in the 76th minute when Nigerian defender Uwa Elderson Echiejile headed in a corner.

Brazilian substitute Nascimento Matheus scored a free kick from 35 yards in the 88th minute to leave Celtic with a mountain to climb at Parkhead in the return next week.

In Amsterdam, Uruguayan World Cup star Luiz Suarez fired Ajax into the lead after just 13 minutes, but PAOK grabbed a crucial away goal 13 minutes from time when Serbian midfielder Vladimir Ivic found the target past Dutch international keeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

Partizan Belgrade took a huge step closer to the play-off round with a 3-0 home win over HJK Helsinki of Finland, with goals from Ivica Iliev, Sasa Ilic and Cleo. - Sapa-AFP