Ajax were held to a 2-2 draw by Slavia Prague after a topsy-turvy Uefa Cup encounter in Amsterdam.
Late Suarez strike spares Dutch blushes
Ajax were held to a 2-2 draw by Slavia Prague after a topsy-turvy Uefa Cup encounter in Amsterdam.
The Czech outfit were always doomed to finish rock-bottom of Group F, but were able to bow out of the competition with their heads held high.
Few would have given them a chance on Dutch soil, with a dismal start suggesting they could be in for a long night.
Jan Vertonghen fired the hosts in front after just four minutes, powerfully heading home a Miralem Suljemani corner.
However, Slavia were level inside 10 minutes as Jarsolav Cerny converted Matej Krajcik's pin-point delivery from the right.
The visitors then completed a remarkable turnaround four minutes before the interval as Krajcik laid on an opportunity for Marek Jarolim.
It appeared as though that would be enough to hand them all three points, only for Luis Suarez to coolly slot home a last minute penalty and earn a share of the spoils.
Ajax progress as runners-up in the group, and will now face one of those sides to fall out of the UEFA Champions League, while Slavia's European adventure is over for another year.
