Champions League: Rapid Vienna knock out Ajax

Four-time European champions Ajax Amsterdam were knocked out of the Champions League in the third qualifying round on Tuesday after a dramatic 3-2 defeat at home to unsung Rapid Vienna.


Ajax, with a 2-2 draw in the bag from the first leg in Vienna, trailed 2-0 at halftime, then hit back to equalise only for Rapid to score again almost immediately to complete a 5-4 aggregate win.

Robert Beric headed in from Stefan Stangl's cross to put Rapid ahead in the 12th minute after Ajax lost possession outside the area and Louis Schaub increased their lead six minutes before halftime.
Ajax, fielding a starting line-up with an average age of under 21, pulled one back when Arkadiusz Milik volleyed home seven minutes into the second half.

Nemanja Gudelj equalised with a controversial goal in the 75th minute, firing home from the edge of the area as Rapid complained that goalkeeper Jan Novota had been fouled in the build-up.
But their protests turned to celebrations two minutes later when 20-year-old Schaub burst forward, held off three defenders and sent his shot into the top corner to stun the Amsterdam Arena.

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