Ajax scrape into Europa League group stage

Ajax have reached the Europa League group stage following a goalless draw away to Czech outfit FK Baumit Jablonec.

A 1-0 victory in Amsterdam last week has seen the Dutch side earn a narrow aggregate victory.

The hosts had two good chances to give themselves the lead on the night during the first half, but Jasper Cillessen kept out strikes from Tomas Wagner and Nermin Crnkic.

Ajax then threatened to find the net towards the end of the opening 45 minutes, though Joel Veltman fluffed his lines when the ball fell to him at the back post from a corner.

The away side started the second half in the ascendancy, only for Jablonec to win a penalty against the run of play on 58 minutes following Jairo Riedewald's handball. However, Cillessen came to the rescue for Ajax again by denying Jan Gregus from the spot.

Frank de Boer's team were reduced to 10 men just a minute after when Riechedly Bazoer picked up his second yellow card of the night.

Ajax hit the post late on through Mitchell Dijks before Viktor Fischer squandered an opportunity from close range. Jablonec applied some intense pressure during the final stages, but they were unable to make it count as the Dutch side held on.