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Ajax's David Neres is tracked by APOEL Nicosia duo Urosh Matich and Dragan Mihajlovic.

Last year's semi-finalists Ajax held in Cyprus with Champions League group stages on the horizon

APOEL were the Dutch outfit’s opposition in tonight’s play-off clash.

AJAX FINISHED WITH 10 men but moved closer to the Champions League group stage with a 0-0 draw away to APOEL in Nicosia in a play-off round first-leg match.

The game was goalless but there was no shortage of exciting action as Ajax, four-time winners of the competition and semi-finalists last season, dominated possession and created a string of promising situations. 

But the lively home attack, with 22-year-old Jordanian Musa Suleiman showing some eye-catching form, created the most dangerous chances.  

Ajax conceded several free kicks in the second half and Noussair Mazraoui paid the price when a flailing tackle on Uros Matic earned him a second yellow card with 10 minutes to play.

Veteran striker Klass Jan Huntelaar, who came on with 12 minutes left, had a clear opportunity to win the game in added time, but the 36-year-old’s tame chip was cleared.  

“We gave the ball away too easily and we must improve next week,” said Ajax attacker Dusan Tadic. “I expect the same compact defensive zone from APOEL in the second game. But we need to play much better.”

While Ajax were disappointed with an away draw, Nicholas Ioannou, APOEL captain, was happy with his team’s chances.

“We played really well,” he said. “We defended very well and had some good chances at the other end to score. We were quite unlucky not to. We still believe we can go through.”

There was only goal from open play in the night’s three matches, but it was a pretty strike to give Slavia Prague a 1-0 victory in Cluj.

Nicolae Stanciu played a 28th-minute corner to Lukas Masopust, lurking outside the penalty area. The midfielder placed the ball into the far corner of the net with the gentlest of long-range volleys.

“We practiced those corner kicks two days ago and I couldn’t hit the ball well,” said Masopust adding that team captain Tomas Soucek “told me today to try it with the side-foot and it worked.”

Cluj coach Dan Petrescu was less impressed.

“Was it a pass or a shot?” he asked. “It was like table tennis.”

Cluj won a penalty in the 79th minute, but Ondrej Kolar saved French striker Billel Omrani left-footed spot kick.

“I knew that the penalty-taking player always waits until the very last moment before kicking the ball, so I waited, did not lose my nerve and saved it,” said Kolar. “It was my first saved penalty for Slavia.”

In Austria, Linz ASK fell behind to Club Brugge in the eighth minute and despite a late siege of the visitors’ goal, lost 1-0.

Centre back Gernot Trauner was caught in possession by Lois Openda and clumsily ran into the striker. Hans Vanaken slammed home the penalty kick.

Tonight’s results in full

  • APOEL Nicosia (CYP) 0-0 Ajax Amsterdam (NED)
  • Linz ASK (AUT) 0-1 Club Brugge (BEL) (Vanaken 10-pen)
  • CFR Cluj (ROM) 0-1 Slavia Prague (CZE)  (Masopust 28) 

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    Mute Sean Higgins
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    Mar 24th 2020, 4:49 PM

    They won’t be happy with that, the same people who insisted on transporting their animals to races in England during the Foot and Mouth crisis……….

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    Mute Michael Mcloughlin
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    Mar 24th 2020, 4:52 PM

    @Sean Higgins: racing was cancelled in England during the Foot & Mouth

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    Mute Brian Carr
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    Mar 24th 2020, 4:54 PM

    @Michael Mcloughlin: ssssh some people don’t like facts

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    Mute Declan Edward
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    Mar 24th 2020, 5:05 PM

    @Sean Higgins: Cheltenham was cancelled that year

    48
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    Mute Sean Higgins
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    Mar 24th 2020, 5:10 PM

    @Michael Mcloughlin: Aintree and other meetings went ahead during the Foot and Mouth crisis in 2001

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    Mute Tony Doyle
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    Mar 24th 2020, 8:43 PM

    @Sean Higgins: Check your facts

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    Mute Chin Feeyin
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    Mar 24th 2020, 5:06 PM

    Horse racing is cruel and barbaric. Should be banned permanently.

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    Mute Brianto
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    Mar 24th 2020, 5:17 PM

    @Chin Feeyin: what would the horses do if there was no racing?

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    Mute James Heffernan
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    Mar 24th 2020, 5:18 PM

    @Chin Feeyin: The horses are taken care of better than yourself

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    Mute Sean D
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    Mar 24th 2020, 5:26 PM

    @Chin Feeyin: there’s always one

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    Mute David Johnson
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    Mar 24th 2020, 5:31 PM

    @Chin Feeyin: you probably ate a horse burger though.

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    Mute Luap
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    Mar 24th 2020, 6:15 PM

    @Chin Feeyin: Clueless.

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    Mute Vin
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    Mar 24th 2020, 6:43 PM

    @Chin Feeyin: are

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    Mute Vin
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    Mar 24th 2020, 6:43 PM

    @Chin Feeyin: Are you confused with greyhound racing

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    Mute Daniel Howard
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    Mar 24th 2020, 7:48 PM

    @Chin Feeyin: Completely agree. Animals shouldn’t be used for our entertainment. It’s cruel.

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    Mute David Johnson
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    Mar 24th 2020, 8:07 PM

    @Daniel Howard: but its not cruel to slaughter animals and eat them?

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    Mute Todd Unctuous
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    Mar 24th 2020, 8:29 PM

    @Daniel Howard: What about your pet husky in your picture. Should you be allowed have him as your pet for your entertainment? Perhaps you should return your dog to the wild in Siberia

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    Mute Tony Doyle
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    Mar 24th 2020, 8:45 PM

    @Chin Feeyin: take a day off

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    Mute Pilib
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    Mar 24th 2020, 4:55 PM

    Bout time

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    Mute Mossy
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    Mar 24th 2020, 5:09 PM

    Never forget Cheltenham 2020

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    Mute Luap
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    Mar 24th 2020, 6:16 PM

    @Mossy: I surely won’t. Lost me feckin bollox

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    Mute pat seery
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    Mar 24th 2020, 7:36 PM

    @Luap: That’s the best news live heard this week

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    Mute Sean Dalton
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    Mar 24th 2020, 8:10 PM

    @Mossy: ya it was good alright, Al Boom Photo doing back to back Gold Cups was excellent, shame the Champion Chase fell apart

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    Mute Davy Evans
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    Mar 24th 2020, 5:59 PM

    The only sport in the world that would disintegrate if it wasn’t for betting.

    53
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    Mute Darren Byrne
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    Mar 24th 2020, 7:25 PM

    @Davy Evans: what about the world of marble racing

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    Mute EillieEs
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    Mar 24th 2020, 4:54 PM

    It’s an ill wind but great news.

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    Mute George Demo
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    Mar 24th 2020, 5:01 PM

    The bookies are closed so no sense having horseracing

    65
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    Mute Charles Malone
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    Mar 24th 2020, 5:34 PM

    @George Demo: there is online betting

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    Mute Mark Mc Donnell
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    Mar 24th 2020, 8:21 PM

    @George Demo: nothing to do with it whatsoever.

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    Mute Mick O'Donoghue
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    Mar 24th 2020, 6:50 PM

    It was only happening to prop up the online betting market. It’s not like there were hordes of people watching it on TV. Only limping along to serve the gambling lobby.

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    Mute Spbeak
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    Mar 24th 2020, 6:15 PM

    Good, about time.

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    Mute Anthony Murphy
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    Mar 24th 2020, 7:35 PM

    Why are they closing the golf courses

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    Mute John Sheehan
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    Mar 24th 2020, 5:09 PM

    On line betting

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    Mute marianne ryan
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    Mar 24th 2020, 7:05 PM

    About time. Put health for all over money and betting

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    Mute paul durnin
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    Mar 24th 2020, 6:39 PM

    About feckin’ time!!!

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    Mute Tony Mcgrath
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    Mar 24th 2020, 6:30 PM

    Another disaster day s tipping for ruby walsh oh hold on he s working for paddy power he s doing a good job so .good value for what paddy power pay him to do.

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    Mute Cowboy Paddy
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    Mar 24th 2020, 5:31 PM

    ​STATEMENT ISSUED AT 5.20pm – TUESDAY 24th MARCH 2020​

    Following the recent announcements by the UK and Irish Governments in relation to the coronavirus pandemic, the GUI and ILGU recommend that all golf clubs, practice facilities and courses across the island close with immediate effect until April 19th 2020.

    While golf is an outdoor sport that allows players to exercise in the fresh air, the message is clear. People must stay at home to help to contain the spread of COVID-19. ​

    The Unions recognise the need clubs may have for business support at this time. We will monitor options available and engage with the relevant sporting bodies in due course to make representations for our member clubs.

    We know that these decisions are difficult ones to make, but right now, it is our shared responsibility to prioritise the health of our local communities by working together to follow the respective Government guidelines. In doing so, this will ensure that we get the opportunity to play the game that we all love as soon as it is safe to do so.

    For security and essential maintenance purposes, greenkeeping staff can still attend work.

    All work must be carried out in strict accordance with government guidelines on physical (social) distancing. Clubs should divide course staff into two teams where possible and if one becomes unavailable, the other team will still be okay to work.

    You will appreciate that this is a very fluid situation with new developments almost daily. We will continue to liaise with the appropriate authorities, and will ensure that our clubs are kept informed as to recommended best practice at all times.

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    Mute Cowboy Paddy
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    Mar 24th 2020, 5:34 PM

    @Cowboy Paddy:
    What is the point of this? We have building sites open with 1000+ people on site working closely and they thing a few guys (who observe social distancing) outside could spread this.
    This is a reaction to the stupid Boris Johnson, do nothing and then go way over the top… UK is a mess and the reason they banned Golf is because they brought down the max meeting to 2. Yes the guys who had a massive party on Saturday to close the pubs.
    Why are we listening to these idiots…

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    Mute Verandah
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    Mar 24th 2020, 5:46 PM

    @Cowboy Paddy: well you’re clearly not.

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    Mute Adrian O'Donnell
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    Mar 24th 2020, 9:27 PM

    @Verandah: it’s Ivan Yeats incognito. Let the wild bollix have his rant.

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    Mute Paddy Waggon
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    Mar 25th 2020, 8:31 AM

    @Cowboy Paddy: ejit

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    Mute Sinead Conneely
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    Mar 24th 2020, 6:00 PM

    Golf ??

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    Mute George Demo
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    Mar 24th 2020, 5:01 PM

    The bookies are closed so no sense having Horse racing

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    Mute Logan Shepherd
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    Mar 24th 2020, 5:03 PM

    @George Demo: I wonder have the bookies closed yet?

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    Mute Brian Carr
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    Mar 24th 2020, 5:15 PM

    @Logan Shepherd: last week

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    Mute Biscuits Patinkin
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    Mar 24th 2020, 5:33 PM

    When are they closing the bookies?

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    Mute Mark Mc Donnell
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    Mar 24th 2020, 8:23 PM

    @Biscuits Patinkin: all bookies shops have been closed since last week so what do you mean?

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    Mute George Demo
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    Mar 24th 2020, 5:00 PM

    The bookies are closed so no sense having horseracing

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    Mute Chin Feeyin
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    Mar 24th 2020, 5:05 PM

    @George Demo: are the bookies closed yet?

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    Mute Now or Never
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    Mar 24th 2020, 8:59 PM

    @Chin Feeyin: closed since last week!

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    Mute Mike McGann
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    Mar 24th 2020, 10:07 PM

    Imagine there’s no horsies, it’s easy if you try. No horse below us, above up only sky. Continue with own lyrics until you’re on the floor.

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    Mute Rocky Rocks
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    Mar 25th 2020, 9:16 AM

    Parasites. All subsidies €100M+ a year to this so-called industry should stop forthwith. #cheltenhamshame

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    Mute Tommy the postman
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    Mar 24th 2020, 10:01 PM

    Chin eat your husky you mog

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