Football
Associated Press 6y

Ajax, Young Boys, AEK Athens reach Champions League group stage

Four-time European champions Ajax qualified for the Champions League group stage on Tuesday for the first time in four years, while AEK Athens and Young Boys Bern ended even longer absences.

Ajax went to Dynamo Kiev with a 3-1 lead and that was the final aggregate result after the Dutch side  were held to a 0-0 draw despite dominating.

Dusan Tadic hit the post from the penalty spot and Hakim Ziyech curled a free kick on to the crossbar as Ajax failed to score despite recording 15 attempts on goal to Dynamo's two. 

Young Boys fans have waited 32 years since their team last played in Europe's top competition. The Swiss team have lost in Champions League qualifying for the last three years but on Tuesday the club beat Croatia's Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 in the second leg for a 3-2 win on aggregate.

Veteran striker Guillaume Hoarau scored twice in three minutes with a penalty and a header to overturn Zagreb's early lead.

AEK Athens beat Hungarian team Vidi 3-2 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw Tuesday, but there was a tense finish when AEK midfielder Helder Lopes was red-carded in the 80th minute. AEK were last in the Champions League group stage 12 years ago.

The losing teams will play in the Europa League group stage.

In Wednesday's Champions League qualifiers, PAOK of Greece host Benfica with that fixture level at 1-1, while PSV Eindhoven attempt to hold on to a 3-2 lead over BATE Borisov and Salzburg face Red Star Belgrade following a goalless first leg.

The draw for Champions League groups will be held on Thursday in Monaco. 

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