Ajax repeat glory days

Ajax 2 Roma 1

In Group B, AFC Ajax overcame the challenge of AS Roma to run out 2-1 winners at the Amsterdam Arena.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic pounced to open the scoring on eleven minutes after Roma goalkeeper Francesco Antonioli could only parry Nigel De Jong's long-range effort.

Jari Litmanen then doubled his side's advantage after 66 minutes, curling the ball beyond Antonioli into the top corner from the edge of the area following a neat cut-back from Ibrahimovic.

Gabriel Batistuta pulled one back for Roma with a header from just inside the area in the final minute, but Ajax stood firm and claimed the three points.