Lyon hold on to secure point in Amsterdam
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Xinhua, September 15, 2011
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Gregory Van der Wiel of Ajax (R) battles for the ball with Michel Bastos of Olympique Lyon during their Champions League Group D soccer match at the Arena stadium in Asterdam, the Netherlands, Wednesday Sept. 14, 2011. |
Ajax and Olympique Lyon started their Champions League campaign with a 0-0 draw in Amsterdam on Wednesday.
With Real Madrid as top favorite in Group D, both teams were aiming for a good start in their opening match.
Ajax had the best of the game, especially in the first twenty minutes, but the French had even more opportunities from counter attacks.
"After all we can be satisfied with the point," Ajax coach Frank de Boer said. "They were very dangerous from counter attacks. That happened a few times."
Bafetimbi Gomis missed the greatest opportunity of the Frenchmen. After a fast attack his shot went wide.
In the second half, Ajax tested goalkeeper Hugo Lloris with efforts by Christian Eriksen en Miralem Sulejmani. He saved the curled shot of Eriksen with one hand and Sulejmani's shot at short range was touched by the Frenchman's foot.
Ajax coach Frank de Boer brought an extra striker with Dmitri Bulykin, but it was Lyon with the best chances in the final minutes. Clement Grenier's shot went wide and Jimmy Briand and Michel Bastos could have finished it but hesitated and Vermeer saved Ajax.
The other match in the group between Dinamo Zagreb and Real Madrid was won 1-0 by the latter. Angel Di Maria scored the only goal in Croatia, while Real finished the match with ten men after Marcelo got his second booking for diving.
In two weeks time, Ajax will play its second match against Real Madrid in Bernabeu and Lyon will play at home against Dinamo Zagreb.
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