APOEL 1 Ajax 1: Manduca rescues point for hosts

Gustavo Manduca’s first-half penalty earned APOEL their first point of this season’s UEFA Champions League as they drew 1-1 with Ajax.

The Brazilian made no mistake from 12 yards to secure a share of the spoils, but the Cypriot side had to withstand intense pressure in the closing minutes.

After controlling the early exchanges Frank de Boer’s side opened the scoring two minutes before the half-hour mark as Lucas Andersen netted his first European goal.

APOEL were only briefly behind, though, as Manduca converted from the spot three minutes later after Ricardo van Rhijn had been penalised for handball.

Both sides wasted second-half chances to take the lead, with Lasse Schone and Cillian Sheridan guilty of poor finishing.

The draw means Ajax have picked up a point from each of their matches in Group F so far, keeping them ahead of APOEL, who were beaten by Barcelona on matchday one.

After his hat-trick against NAC Breda on Saturday, Kolbeinn Sigthorsson should have netted his first Champions League goal in just the second minute.

Andersen sprayed a pass to the right where the unmarked Davy Klaassen played a first-time pass into the striker, but he fired wide from six yards.

Seven minutes later Ajax produced an almost carbon copy of the earlier move but once again the Iceland international was unable to convert as Klaassen’s cross eluded him.

The visitors were controlling possession and in the 28th minute they got their reward as Andersen opened the scoring from the edge of the penalty area.

The Dane played a neat pass into Schone, who returned to the starting line-up following a groin injury. Schone’s effort was saved by Urko Pardo but Andersen pounced on the rebound.

Three minutes later the sides were level again, though, as Van Rhijn was adjudged to have handled the ball inside his own area.

A spot-kick was awarded despite Ajax protests and Manduca, in for Tomas De Vincenti, cooly slotted home from 12 yards.

As half-time approached APOEL, having soaked up more Ajax pressure, should have taken the lead but Sheridan was agonisingly short of converting Manduca’s cross.

Nine minutes after the break both sides had a chance to take the lead in the space of 30 seconds, but Schone’s effort was weak and Sheridan could not divert a header on target at the other end.

APOEL felt they should have had a man advantage on 56 minutes when Cillessen brought down Sheridan outside the area. However, the Netherlands goalkeeper was only booked and Mario Sergio wasted the resulting free-kick.

Cillessen then came to Ajax’s rescue as he got down brilliantly to keep out a low, 20-yard drive from Mario Sergio.

He very nearly turned provider too as his long ball forward was picked up by Sigthorsson, whose effort was blocked by Pardo.

Sigthorsson’s frustrating night in front of goal continued as he saw a looping header land on the top of the goal from Niklas Moisander’s free kick.

One of APOEL’s rare attacks in the second half nearly resulted in a home victory but substitute De Vicenti was flagged offside, meaning his neat chipped finish did not count.

Ajax should have claimed a winner in stoppage time, but Thulani Serero dragged wide from 18 yards with Pardo out of position.